ii

Weight-Shift Control Aircraft

Flying Handbook

2008

U.S. Department of Transportation

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Flight Standards Service

ii

Preface
The Weight-Shift Control (WSC) Aircraft Flying Handbook introduces the basic pilot knowledge and skills that are essential
for piloting WSC aircraft. It introduces pilots to the broad spectrum of knowledge that is needed as they progress in their
pilot training. This handbook is for student pilots, as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certicates.
Student pilots learning to y WSC aircraft, certicated pilots preparing for additional WSC ratings or who desire to improve
their ying prociency and aeronautical knowledge, and commercial WSC pilots teaching WSC students how to y should
nd this handbook helpful. This book introduces the prospective pilot to the realm of WSC ight and provides information
and guidance to all WSC pilots in the performance of various maneuvers and procedures.
This handbook conforms to pilot training and certication concepts established by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). There are different ways of teaching, as well as performing ight procedures and maneuvers, and many variations
in the explanations of aerodynamic theories and principles. This handbook adopts a selective method and concept to ying
WSC aircraft. The discussions and explanations reect the most commonly used practices and principles. Occasionally,
the word must or similar language is used where the desired action is deemed critical. The use of such language is not
intended to add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
It is essential for persons using this handbook also to become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and
the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). Performance standards for demonstrating competence required for pilot
certication are prescribed in the appropriate WSC practical test standard.
This handbook is available for download, in PDF format, from the FAA website, www.faa.gov.
This handbook is published by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman
Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
Comments regarding this publication should be sent, in email form, to the following address:
AFS630comments@faa.gov

iii

iv

Acknowledgments
The Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with
the assistance of Safety Research Corporation of America. The FAA wishes to acknowledge the following contributors for
images provided and used throughout the handbook:
Paul Hamilton of Adventure Productions
AirBorne Australia
Matt Liknaitzky of MGL Avionics
Jon P. Thornburgh
Tampa Bay Aerosports
Gerry Charlebois of Birds in Paradise
Wills Wing, Inc.

vi

Table of Contents
Preface ...................................................................iii
Acknowledgments ..................................................v
Table of Contents .................................................vii
Chapter 1
Introduction To Weight-Shift Control ................1-1
Introduction ....................................................................1-1
History............................................................................1-2
Hang Glider ................................................................1-4
Motorized Hang Gliders .............................................1-4
New Challenges..........................................................1-5
Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) ............................................1-6
Weight-Shift Control Aircraft ....................................1-7
Weight-Shift Control LSA Requirements ..................1-8
Flight Operations and Pilot Certicates .........................1-8
Basic Pilot Eligibility .................................................1-9
Flight Safety Practices ...................................................1-9
Collision Avoidance ...................................................1-9
Runway Incursion Avoidance ..................................1-10
Positive Transfer of Controls ...................................1-10
Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) .......................1-10
Avoiding Pilot Errors ...............................................1-11
Scenario-Based Training ..........................................1-12
Resource Management .............................................1-12
Use of Checklists ......................................................1-12
Medical Factors ...........................................................1-13
Fatigue ......................................................................1-13
Hypothermia ............................................................1-13
Medical Summary ....................................................1-14
Chapter Summary ........................................................1-14
Chapter 2
Aerodynamics ......................................................2-1
Introduction ....................................................................2-1
Aerodynamic Terms ...................................................2-1
WSC Wing Flexibility ...................................................2-6
Forces in Flight ..............................................................2-7
Dynamic Pressure (q) .................................................2-7
Lift ..............................................................................2-7

Drag ............................................................................2-8
Thrust .......................................................................2-10
Ground Effect ...........................................................2-11
Center of Gravity (CG) ............................................2-11
Axes of Rotation ..........................................................2-12
Lateral AxisPitch ..................................................2-12
Longitudinal AxisRoll ..........................................2-13
Vertical AxisYaw .................................................2-13
Stability and Moments ................................................2-13
WSC Unique Airfoil and Wing Design....................2-13
TrimNormal Stabilized Flight .............................2-13
High Angles of Attack..............................................2-13
Low Angles of Attack ..............................................2-14
Pitch Pressures..........................................................2-14
Roll Stability and Moments......................................2-16
Yaw Stability and Moments .....................................2-17
Thrust Moments .......................................................2-18
Stalls: Exceeding the Critical AOA .............................2-18
Whip StallTuckTumble ........................................2-19
Weight, Load, and Speed ............................................2-20
Basic Propeller Principles ............................................2-20
Chapter Summary ........................................................2-20
Chapter 3
Components and Systems .................................3-1
Introduction ....................................................................3-1
Wing ..............................................................................3-2
Wing Frame Components ..........................................3-2
Keel ........................................................................3-3
Crossbar .................................................................3-4
Control Frame .........................................................3-4
King Post With Wires-on-Top Wing Design..........3-5
Topless Wings With Struts ....................................3-5
Battens and Leading Edge Stiffener ......................3-7
Sail Material and Panels ........................................3-7
Pockets and Hardware ...........................................3-7
Sail Attachment to Wing Frame ............................3-7
Cables and Hardware ....................................................3-7
Wing Systems .............................................................3-8
Reex Systems .......................................................3-8

vii

Roll Control System ..............................................3-9

Trim Systems..............................................................3-9
Ground Adjustable Trim Systems .........................3-9
Inight Adjustable Trim Systems ........................3-10
Structure ...................................................................3-11
Landing Gear ...........................................................3-11
Landing Gear for Water and Snow .......................3-14
Electrical Systems ....................................................3-15
Ballistic Parachute ...................................................3-15
Flight Deck...................................................................3-16
Dashboards and Instrument Panels .........................3-16
Flight Instruments ................................................3-17
Navigation Instruments ........................................3-17
Engine Instruments ..............................................3-17
Instrument Panel Arrangements ...............................3-17
Communications ..................................................3-19
Powerplant System ..................................................3-19
Fuel System Components .....................................3-20
Engine and Gearbox .............................................3-20
The Propeller ........................................................3-20
Chapter Summary ........................................................3-22
Chapter 4
Powerplants .........................................................4-1
Introduction ....................................................................4-1
Reciprocating Engines ...................................................4-2
Two-Stroke Engines ...................................................4-2
Two-Stroke Process....................................................4-4
Four-Stroke Engines ...................................................4-6
Exhaust Systems ............................................................4-6
Two-Stroke Tuned Exhaust Systems .........................4-6
Four-Stroke Engine Exhaust Systems ........................4-7
Engine Warming ............................................................4-7
Two-Stroke Engine Warming ....................................4-7
Four-Stroke Engine Warming ....................................4-8
Gearboxes ......................................................................4-8
Propeller .........................................................................4-8
Fixed-Pitch Propeller..................................................4-8
Ground Adjustable-Pitch Propeller ............................4-9
Induction Systems ..........................................................4-9
Carburetor Systems ........................................................4-9
Two-Stroke Carburetor Jetting for Proper Mixture..4-10
Four-Stroke Mixture Settings ...................................4-10
Carburetor Icing .......................................................4-10
Fuel Injection Induction Systems.................................4-11
Ignition System ............................................................4-12
Combustion ..................................................................4-12
Fuel Systems ................................................................4-13
Fuel Pumps ...............................................................4-13
Fuel Plunger Primer .................................................4-14

viii

Choke .......................................................................4-14
Fuel Bulb Primer ......................................................4-14
Fuel Gauges ..............................................................4-14
Fuel Filter .................................................................4-14
Fuel ...........................................................................4-14
Fuel Contamination ..................................................4-15
Refueling Procedures ...............................................4-15
Mixing Two-Stroke Oil and Fuel .............................4-16
Starting System ............................................................4-16
Oil Systems ..................................................................4-17
Engine Cooling Systems ..............................................4-17
Chapter Summary ........................................................4-18
Chapter 5
Preight and Ground Operations.......................5-1
Introduction ....................................................................5-1
Where To Fly .................................................................5-2
Preight Actions ............................................................5-3
Weather ..........................................................................5-3
Regional Weather .......................................................5-3
Local Conditions ........................................................5-3
Weight and Loading .......................................................5-5
Transporting ...................................................................5-7
Setting Up the WSC Aircraft ....................................5-8
Taking Down the WSC Aircraft ..............................5-12
Wing Tuning ................................................................5-14
Tuning the Wing To Fly Straight ............................5-14
Preight Inspection ......................................................5-15
Certicates and Documents ......................................5-15
Routine Preight Inspection .....................................5-16
Wing Inspection ....................................................5-17
Carriage Inspection ...............................................5-18
Powerplant Inspection ..........................................5-19
Cooling Systems ..................................................5-20
Exhaust Systems ...................................................5-20
Propeller Gearbox .................................................5-20
Throttle System .....................................................5-20
Flight Deck Inspection .............................................5-20
Fuel ...........................................................................5-20
Oil .............................................................................5-21
Ready Aircraft To Enter Flight Deck .......................5-22
Occupant Preight Brief...........................................5-22
Flight Deck Management .........................................5-23
Checklist After Entering Flight Deck ...................5-23
Engine Start ..............................................................5-23
Taxiing .........................................................................5-24
Checklist for Taxi .................................................5-25
Before Takeoff Check ..............................................5-26
After Landing ...........................................................5-26
Chapter Summary ........................................................5-28

Chapter 6
Flight Manuevers .................................................6-1
Introduction ...................................................................6-1
Effects and the Use of the Controls ...............................6-2
Attitude Flying ..............................................................6-4
Straight-and-Level Flying ..............................................6-4
Trim Control .................................................................6-7
Level Turns ...................................................................6-7
Coordinating the Controls ..........................................6-8
Climbs and Climbing Turns .........................................6-12
Descents and Descending Turns ..................................6-14
Gliding Turns ..........................................................6-16
Pitch and Power ..........................................................6-16
Steep Turn Performance Maneuver .............................6-16
Energy Management ....................................................6-19
Slow Flight and Stalls ..................................................6-20
Slow Flight ...............................................................6-20
Stalls .........................................................................6-21
Power-Off Stall Manuever .......................................6-23
Whip Stall and Tumble Awareness..............................6-24
A Scenario ................................................................6-24
Chapter Summary ........................................................6-26
Chapter 7
Takeoff and Departure Climbs ...........................7-1
Introduction ...................................................................7-1
Terms and Denitions ................................................7-2
Prior to Takeoff ..............................................................7-2
Normal Takeoff ..............................................................7-2
Takeoff Roll ...............................................................7-3
Lift-Off .......................................................................7-3
Initial Climb ...............................................................7-4
Crosswind Takeoff .........................................................7-6
Takeoff Roll ...............................................................7-6
Rotation and Lift-Off .................................................7-6
Initial Climb ...............................................................7-6
Ground Effect on Takeoff ..............................................7-7
Short Field Takeoff and Steepest Angle Climb .............7-8
Takeoff Roll ...............................................................7-9
Lift-Off and Climb Out ..............................................7-9
Soft/Rough Field Takeoff and Climb ..........................7-10
Takeoff Roll .............................................................7-12
Lift-Off and Initial Climb .........................................7-12
Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure .................................7-12
Noise Abatement..........................................................7-13
Chapter Summary ........................................................7-13

Chapter 8
The National Airspace System ...........................8-1
Introduction ....................................................................8-1
Uncontrolled Airspace ...................................................8-2
Class G Airspace ........................................................8-2
Controlled Airspace .......................................................8-4
Class E Airspace.........................................................8-4
Towered Airport Operations ......................................8-6
Class D Airspace ........................................................8-6
Class C Airspace ........................................................8-6
Class B Airspace ........................................................8-7
Airspace Above 10,000' MSL and Below 18,000' .....8-8
Class A Airspace ........................................................8-8
Special Use Airspace .....................................................8-8
Prohibited Areas .........................................................8-8
Restricted Areas .........................................................8-9
Warning Areas............................................................8-9
Military Operations Areas (MOAs) ...........................8-9
Alert Areas ...............................................................8-10
Controlled Firing Areas ............................................8-10
Parachute Jump Areas ..............................................8-11
Other Airspace Areas ...................................................8-11
Local Airport Advisory ............................................8-11
Military Training Routes (MTRs) ............................8-11
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) .....................8-11
Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSA) ...................8-12
National Security Areas (NSAs) ..............................8-12
Published VFR Routes .................................................8-12
Flight Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges,
Parks, and Forest Service Areas...................................8-12
WSC Operations ..........................................................8-12
WSC and Air Trafc Control ...................................8-12
Navigating the Airspace ...........................................8-13
Chapter Summary ........................................................8-13
Chapter 9
Ground Reference Maneuvers ...........................9-1
Introduction ....................................................................9-1
Maneuvering by Reference to Ground Objects .............9-2
Drift and Ground Track Control ....................................9-2
Rectangular Course ........................................................9-4
S-Turns Across a Road ..................................................9-7
Turns Around a Point .....................................................9-9
Chapter Summary ........................................................9-12

ix

Chapter 10
Airport Trafc Patterns .....................................10-1
Introduction .................................................................10-1
Airport Operations .......................................................10-2
Standard Airport Trafc Patterns .................................10-2
Chapter Summary ........................................................10-8
Chapter 11
Approaches and Landings ...............................11-1
Introduction ..................................................................11-1
Normal (Calm Wind) Approaches and Landings ........11-2
Throttle Use ..............................................................11-2
Base Leg ...................................................................11-2
Estimating Height and Movement............................11-5
Roundout (Flare) ......................................................11-6
Touchdown ...............................................................11-7
After-Landing Roll ...................................................11-7
Effect of Headwinds During Final Approach ..............11-8
Stabilized Approach Concept ....................................11-10
Go-Around (Rejected Landings)................................11-13
Power ......................................................................11-13
Short and Soft Field Landing Techniques .................11-14
Short-Field Approaches and Landings ...................11-14
Soft and Rough Field Approaches and Landings ...11-15
Power-on Approach and Landing for
Turbulant Air ....................................................11-16
Crosswind Approaches and Landings ........................11-17
Crosswind Pattern Procedures ...............................11-17
Effects and Hazards of High Crosswinds
for Approaches and Landings ................................11-17
Crosswind Landings ...............................................11-19
Maximum Crosswind Velocities ............................11-19
Steep Approaches.......................................................11-20
Steep Angle ............................................................11-21
Alternating Turns ...................................................11-21
Power-Off Accuracy Approaches ..............................11-21
90 Power-Off Approach .......................................11-22
180 Power-Off Approach .....................................11-23
360 Power-Off Approach .....................................11-25
Emergency Approaches and Landings
(Simulated Engine Out) .............................................11-26
Faulty Approaches and Landings...............................11-27
Low Final Approach...............................................11-27
High Final Approach ..............................................11-27
Slow Final Approach ..............................................11-27
Use of Power ..........................................................11-28
High Roundout .......................................................11-28
Late or Rapid Roundout .........................................11-28
Floating During Roundout .....................................11-28
Ballooning During Roundout .................................11-29
Bouncing During Touchdown ................................11-29

Porpoising...............................................................11-29
Wing Rising After Touchdown ..............................11-30
Hard Landing..........................................................11-30
Chapter Summary ......................................................11-30
Chapter 12
Night Operations ...............................................12-1
Introduction ..................................................................12-1
Pilot Requirements .......................................................12-2
Equipment and Lighting ..............................................12-2
Pilot Equipment ........................................................12-3
Airport and Navigation Lighting Aids .....................12-4
Night Vision .................................................................12-5
Unique WSC Flight Characteristics .............................12-7
Night Illusions..............................................................12-7
Preparation and Preight..............................................12-8
Starting, Taxiing, and Runup .......................................12-8
Takeoff and Climb .......................................................12-9
Orientation and Navigation ........................................12-10
Approaches and Landings ..........................................12-11
Night Emergencies .....................................................12-12
Chapter Summary ......................................................12-13
Chapter 13
Abnormal and Emergency Procedures ...........13-1
Introduction ..................................................................13-1
Ballistic Parachute System (BPS) ................................13-2
Procedures for Using a BPS .....................................13-3
Emergency Landings ...................................................13-3
Types of Emergency Landings .................................13-3
Psychological Hazards .............................................13-3
Basic Safety Concepts ..............................................13-4
Attitude and Sink Rate Control ................................13-5
Terrain Selection ......................................................13-6
Approach ..................................................................13-6
Terrain Types ...........................................................13-7
Water Landings (Ditching).......................................13-8
Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear ...............13-8
Engine Failure After Takeoff ...................................13-9
Emergency Descents ..................................................13-10
Inight Fire ................................................................13-10
Engine Fire .............................................................13-10
Electrical Fires........................................................13-12
System Malfunctions .................................................13-12
Electrical System ....................................................13-12
Pitot-Static System .................................................13-12
Landing Gear Malfunction .....................................13-13
Inadvertant Propeller Strike ...................................13-13
Stuck or Runaway Throttle ....................................13-13
Abnormal Engine Instrument Indications ..............13-13
Weather Related Emergencies ...................................13-15

High Winds and Strong Turbulence .......................13-15

High Winds and Turbulence During
Cruise Flight .......................................................13-15
High Winds and Turbulence During Takeoffs
and Landings .......................................................13-15
High Winds During Taxi ....................................13-15
Inadvertent Flight into Instrument Meteorological
Conditions (IMC) ...................................................13-16
Recognition .........................................................13-17
Maintaining Aircraft Control ..............................13-17
Attitude Control ..................................................13-18
Turns ...................................................................13-18
Chapter Summary ......................................................13-19
Glossary ..............................................................G-1
Index ......................................................................I-1

xi

xii

Chapter 1

Introduction To
Weight-Shift Control
Introduction
Weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft means a powered aircraft
with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only
in pitch and roll by the pilots ability to change the aircrafts
center of gravity (CG) with respect to the wing. Flight control
of the aircraft depends on the wings ability to deform exibly
rather than on the use of control surfaces.
This chapter provides background on the development of the
WSC aircraft, its unique characteristics, the requirements for
obtaining a WSC license (airman certicate), aeronautical
decision-making (ADM), and the unique medical factors
required to operate WSC aircraft safely. Further, it is highly
recommended that all pilots develop a general understanding
of aviation by becoming familiar with the Pilots Handbook
of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Aeronautical Information
Manual (AIM). Listings of other available handbooks can be
found on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website
at www.faa.gov.

1-1

History
From the beginning of mankind, we have looked to the skies
where legends and myths have entertained and provided us
the dream to y. Through the middle ages, the idea of ight
evolved across Europe, with Leonardo Da Vinci well known
for designing ying machines to carry humans. In 1874, Otto
Lilienthal, a German mechanical engineer, started designing,
building, and flying bird-like wings. [Figure 1-1] He
published his work in 1889, and by 1891 made ights of

over 100 feet in distance. Otto was the rst successful hang
glider pilot to design, build, and y a number of wing designs.
[Figure 1-2]
In 1903, the Wright brothers gliders became powered and
the airplane was born as the Wright Flyer. In the early 1900s,
aircraft congurations evolved as faster speeds and heavier
loads were placed on aircraft in ight. As a result of the new
demands, the simple exible wing was no longer sufcient
and aircraft designers began to incorporate rigid wings with
mechanical aerodynamic controls. These new ideas in wing
design eventually resulted in the familiar aileron and rudder
congurations found on the modern airplane.
Commercial applications were driving the need for faster and
heavier aircraft; however, the dream of achieving manned
powered ight in its most bird-like form was evolving along
a different path. As rigid wing design enjoyed development
for military and commercial applications, the exible wing
concept lay largely dormant for decades. In 1948, a exible
wing design was created by Francis Melvin Rogallo as a ying
toy kit for which he obtained a patent in 1951. [Figure 1-3]

Figure 1-1. Otto Lilienthal, the German Glider King.

Rogallos design concept evolved down two parallel paths

in the early 1960s, military and sport ight. The military
application was the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) development of the Rogallo wing
into the Paresev (Paraglider Research Vehicle) later renamed
the Parawing. That aircraft had rigid leading edges shown
in Figure 1-4. NASA had the cart attached to the keel hanging
below the wing and using weight shift to control the wing in
the same fashion as modern WSC aircraft today.

Figure 1-2. Various models of Otto Lilienthals glider, the forerunner of weight-shift control aircraft today.

1-2

During this same period, other pioneering engineers and

enthusiasts started developing the Rogallo wing for sport. One
was aeronautical engineer, Barry Palmer, who saw pictures of
the NASA wings and, in 1961, constructed and ew a number
of hang gliders based on the Rogallo design. [Figure 1-5]
His efforts and others evolved to the WSC aircraft in the late
1960s. Another pioneer was John Dickenson of Australia
who used the NASA Rogallo wing design but incorporated
a triangular control bar that provided structure for the wing
during ight with ying wires. [Figure 1-6]

Figure 1-3. Rogallos flexible wing for a kite, submitted for patent

in 1948.

Figure 1-5. Barry Palmer flying a foot-launched hang glider in

1961.

Figure 1-4. NASA testing the Rogallo wing, which led to the modern

hang glider and WSC aircraft.

1-3

Ground Wires

Flying Wires
Control Bar

Figure 1-6. Simple structure added to the Rogallo wing allows wires to hold up the wings on the ground and support the wing in flight.

Hang Glider
The WSC system and the good ying qualities of the Rogallo
wing and Dickenson wing, combined with its easy set-up
and portability, started the hang gliding craze in the early
1970s. [Figure 1-7] In 1967, the rst powered aircraft based
on the exible wing concept of Dr. Rogallo was registered
as amateur-built experimental. Flexible wing development
continued, and by the early 1970s several adventurous
entrepreneurs were manufacturing Rogallo wings for sport
use.

Activity in the hang gliding community increased throughout

the 1970s, which resulted in the proliferation and development
of stable, high-quality modern hang gliders like the one
shown in Figure 1-9.
Motorized Hang Gliders
In the late 1970s, performance had increased enough to allow
motors to be added to hang gliders and own practically. It
was not until the wings had become efcient and the engines
and propeller systems evolved that the rst commercial motor
for a hang glider was introduced in 1977, the Soarmaster. It
used a two-stroke engine with a reduction system, clutch, and
long drive-shaft that bolted to the wing frame. It had a climb
rate as high as 200 feet per minute (fpm) which was acceptable
for practical ight. However, during takeoff the wing would
overtake the running pilot, and launching was very difcult.
Also while ying, if the pilot went weightless or stalled under
power, the glider would shoot forward and nose down into
a dive. Overall, with the propeller pushing the wing forward
during takeoffs and in some situations while ying, this was
unsafe for a wide application. [Figure 1-10]

A Maturing Industry
Figure 1-7. An original Rogallo wing, 1975.

Another signicant step in wing design was an airfoil that

would change shape for optimum performance at slow and
fast speeds. It was the rst Rogallo wing with a lower surface
that could enclose the structure that holds the wings out.
Enclosing this cross bar tube and providing a thicker airfoil
similar to the airplane wing provided a jump in high speed
performance. This double-surface wing was quickly adopted
by manufacturers as the high performance standard and is
used on faster WSC aircraft today. [Figure 1-8]

1-4

Engines and airframe technology had made great advances

because the ultralight xed wing evolution was providing lighter
weight, higher power, and more reliable propulsion systems.
The propeller was moved lower for better takeoff and ight
characteristics, wheels were added, and the trike was born at
the end of the 1970s. A trike describes a Rogallo type wing
with a three wheeled carriage underneath (much like a tricycle
arrangement with one wheel in front and two in back). Trike
is the industry term to describe both ultralight vehicles and

Double or lower surface

Enclosed crossbar

Figure 1-8. The double-surface patented wing, 1978.

Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) WSC aircraft. [Figure 1-11] The

major trike manufacturers were formed in the early 1980s
and continue to deliver trikes worldwide today.

Figure 1-9. A modern high-performance hang glider soaring high

over the mountains from which it was launched.

New Challenges
By the 1980s, individuals were rapidly developing and
operating small powered trikes. This development failed
to address the sport nature and unique challenges these
new aircraft presented to the aviation community. In an
attempt to include these ying machines in its regulatory
framework, the FAA issued Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 103, Ultralight Vehicles, in 1982.
Aircraft falling within the ultralight vehicle specications
are lightweight (less than 254 pounds if powered, or 155
pounds if unpowered), are intended for manned operation

Propeller shaft
Engine

Propeller

ing

t at w

Thrus

Propeller guard

Figure 1-10. First motorized system design sold as an add-on kit for a hang glider.

1-5

Figure 1-11. An ultralight vehicle trike: a Rogallo wing on a

modified undercarriage.

by a single occupant, have a fuel capacity of ve gallons

or less, a maximum calibrated airspeed of not more than 55
knots, and a maximum stall speed of not more than 24 knots.
Ultralight vehicles do not require pilot licensing, medical
certication, or aircraft registration. Ultralight vehicles are
dened in more detail with their operating limitations in 14
CFR part 103.
Because training was so important for the single-place
ultralight vehicle pilots, the FAA granted an exemption that
allowed the use of two-seat ultralight vehicles for training,
and the sport of two-seat ultralight training vehicles grew.
Throughout the 1990s, worldwide sales of both singleseat and two-seat ultralight vehicles soared, but it was the
proliferation of two-seat trainers that took the industry and the
regulators by surprise. Worldwide sales of two-seat ultralight
vehicle trainers vastly outnumbered the sales of single-seat
ultralight vehicles; and it became clear that the two-seat
trainers, which were intended to be operated as trainers only,
were being used for sport and recreational purposes. This
created a demand for increased comfort and reliability, which
resulted in heavier, more sophisticated machines.

Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

To address the evolution of the ultralight vehicle and its
community of sport users, the FAA issued new rules on
September 1, 2004. These rules created a new category of
LSA and a new classication of FAA pilot certication to y
LSA, called Sport Pilot. Additional guidelines established by
the FAA can be found in 14 CFR part 61. [Figure 1-12] This
handbook focuses on the WSC aircraft.
Aircraft certicated as LSA exceed the limitations dened
for ultralight vehicles and require that the pilot possess, at a
minimum, a Sport Pilot certicate. The sport pilot rule denes
the limitations and privileges for both the sport pilot and the
1-6

Figure 1-12. Examples of LSA, from top to bottom: gyroplane,

airplane, powered parachute, and weight-shift control aircraft.

LSA. In addition, the regulations governing the sport pilot rule

dene the training requirements of prospective sport pilots
and the airworthiness requirements for their machines. For
instance, an ultralight vehicle must not exceed 254 pounds
or carry more than one person. Aircraft that carry more than
one person and weigh over 254 pounds but less than 1,320
pounds may be certied as LSA provided they meet specic
certication requirements. Therefore, many WSC ultralight
vehicles became LSA (provided they were properly inspected
and issued an airworthiness certicate by the FAA).
Weight-Shift Control Aircraft
WSC aircraft are single- and two-place trikes that do not meet
the criteria of an ultralight vehicle but do meet the criteria of
LSA. The denition for WSC can be found in 14 CFR part 1.
Flight control of the aircraft depends on the wings ability to
exibly deform rather than on the use of control surfaces.
The common acronyms for this LSA are WSC (weight-shift
control); WSCL (WSC land), which can be wheels or ski
equipped; and WSCS (WSC Sea) for water operations. A
LSA WSC used for sport and private pilot ying must be
registered with a FAA N-number, have an airworthiness
certificate, a pilots operating handbook (POH), and/or
limitations with a weight and loading document aboard. The
aircraft must be maintained properly by the aircraft owner
or other qualied personnel and have the aircraft logbooks
available for inspection. Dual ight controls are required in
two-seat aircraft used for training.

There are several unique features of the WSC aircraft:

The wing structure is in the pilots hands and is used

to control the aircraft. There are no mechanical devices
between the pilot and the wing. The pilot can directly
feel the atmosphere while ying through it because the
pilot is holding the wing. This is a direct connection
between the wing and the pilot like no other aircraft.

The pilot can feel the wing as the wingtips or nose

moves up and down, but the carriage and passenger
are more stable. Turbulence is not felt as much as in
a xed-wing aircraft.

Different wings can be put on a single carriage. This

allows the pilot to have a large wing that can take off
in short distances, which would be good for low and
slow ying. A large wing with a lightweight carriage
can also be used for soaring and is capable of ying
at speeds below 30 miles per hour (mph). At the other
extreme, a smaller high performance wing can be
used for ying long distances at high speeds. With a
small wing and a larger motor, WSC aircraft can y
at speeds up to 100 mph.

The wing can be taken off the carriage and folded up

into a tube that can be easily transported and stored.
This allows owners to store the WSC aircraft in a
trailer or garage, transport the WSC aircraft to a local
site, and set it up anywhere. [Figure 1-14]

The carriage is comprised of the engine and ight deck

attached by a structure to wheels, oats, or skis; it may also
be referred to as the fuselage. The wing is the sail, structure
that supports the sail, battens (ribs) that form the airfoil, and
associated hardware. [Figure 1-13]

Wing

Figure 1-14. Wing folded and on top of a recreational vehicle with

the carriage in a trailer.

Carriage

Figure 1-13. Carriage and wing of a WSC aircraft.

1-7

Since the WSC aircraft is designed without the weight

and drag of a tail, the performance is signicantly
increased. The aircraft can take off and land in short
fields, has good climb rates, can handle a large
payload, has a good glide ratio, and is fuel efcient.
The WSC LSA typically can carry 600 pounds of
people, fuel, and baggage.

Besides having large and small wings for different speeds,

the WSC aircraft wings can have wires for bracing, struts,
or a combination of both. Throughout this handbook, both
are used in diagrams and pictures. WSC aircraft are typically
on wheels, but there are models that can land and take off on
water and snow. [Figure 1-15]

1,430 pounds (650 kilograms) for an aircraft

intended for operation on water

2.

A maximum airspeed in level ight with maximum

continuous power (VH) of not more than 120 knots
calibrated (computed) air speed (CAS) under standard
atmospheric conditions at sea level.

3.

A maximum stalling speed or minimum steady ight

speed without the use of lift-enhancing devices
(VS1) of not more than 45 knots CAS at the aircrafts
maximum certicated takeoff weight and most critical
center of gravity.

4.

A maximum seating capacity of no more than two

persons, including the pilot.

5.

A single reciprocating engine.

6.

A xed or ground-adjustable propeller.

7.

Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for

operation on water.

8.

Fixed or retractable landing gear, or a hull, for an

aircraft intended for operation on water.

Flight Operations and Pilot Certicates

The FAA is empowered by the United States Congress to
promote aviation safety by prescribing safety standards for
civil aviation programs and pilots. Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR), formerly referred to as Federal
Aviation Regulations (FAR), is one of the primary means of
conveying these safety standards. [Figure 1-16] 14 CFR part
61 species the requirements to earn a pilot certicate and
obtain additional WSC privileges if already a pilot. 14 CFR
part 91 is General Operating and Flight Rules for pilots. The
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) provides basic ight
information and operation procedures for pilots to operate in
the National Airspace System (NAS).

Figure 1-15. WSC aircraft with struts similar to those on an airplane

(top) and WSC aircraft operating on water (bottom).

Weight-Shift Control LSA Requirements

A WSC LSA must meet the following requirements:
1.

A maximum takeoff weight of not more than

1-8

1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not

intended for operation on water; or

Figure 1-16. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and Aeronautical

Information Manual (AIM).

Basic Pilot Eligibility

Title 14 CFR, part 61 species the requirements to earn a
pilot certicate. This regulation also states the pilot applicant
must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English
language. The FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) establish
the standards for the knowledge and skills necessary for the
issuance of a pilot certicate. It is important to reference both
of these documents to understand the knowledge, skills, and
experience required to obtain a pilot certicate to y a WSC
aircraft. [Figure 1-17]

on the airman record is cleared by having a valid third class

medical certicate issued.

Flight Safety Practices

In the interest of safety and good habit pattern formation,
there are certain basic ight safety practices and procedures
that must be emphasized by the ight instructor and adhered
to by both instructor and student, beginning with the very
rst dual instruction ight. These include, but are not limited
to, collision avoidance procedures including proper scanning
techniques and clearing procedures, runway incursion
avoidance, and positive transfer of controls.
Collision Avoidance
All pilots must be alert to the potential for midair collision
and near midair collisions. The general operating and
ight rules in 14 CFR part 91 set forth the concept of see
and avoid. This concept requires that vigilance shall be
maintained at all times by each person operating an aircraft.
Most midair collision accidents and reported near midair
collision incidents occur in good visual ight rules (VFR)
weather conditions and during the hours of daylight. Most of
these accident/incidents occur within ve miles of an airport
and/or near navigation aids.

Figure 1-17. Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Weight Shift

The see and avoid concept relies on knowledge of the

limitations of the human eye, and the use of proper visual
scanning techniques to help compensate for these limitations.
The importance of, and the proper techniques for, visual
scanning should be taught to a student pilot at the very
beginning of ight training. The competent ight instructor
should be familiar with the visual scanning and collision
avoidance information contained in Advisory Circular
(AC) 90-48, Pilots Role in Collision Avoidance, and the
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Control, Powered Parachute, and Flight Instructor.

Pilot applicants and students ying solo must have a valid

drivers license or a current third-class medical certicate
issued under 14 CFR part 67. In addition to a valid drivers
license or a medical certicate, each pilot must determine
before each ight that he or she is medically t to operate
the aircraft in a safe manner. If using a valid drivers license
to exercise the privileges of a sport pilot certicate, then
all restrictions on that drivers license are also upheld. A
current FAA third-class medical certicate must be obtained
to exercise the privileges of a WSC private pilot certicate.
Existing pilots, including previous student pilots, who have
had their FAA medical certicate or most recent application
denied, revoked, withdrawn, or suspended by the FAA, are
not allowed to operate using a drivers license until the denial

It should be noted that any turn or maneuver must be

cleared before initiating. This is a most important concept
in ying any aircraft. Look and clear the area of any aircraft
or obstructions before any maneuver is performed. As an
example, if a right hand turn is to be performed, the pilot
must look right and clear the area before initiating any turn
to the right. This clearing procedure must be done before
performing any maneuver.
This is an important habit for any student for safety purposes
and is incorporated into the pilot certication process. The
pilot must be trained by a CFI in effectively clearing the area
before any maneuver is performed.

1-9

There are many different types of clearing procedures. Most

are centered around the use of clearing turns. Some pilot
training programs have hard-and-fast rules, such as requiring
two 90 turns in opposite directions before executing any
training maneuver. Other types of clearing procedures may
be developed by individual ight instructors. Whatever
the preferred method, the ight instructor should teach the
beginning student an effective clearing procedure and require
its use. The student pilot should execute the appropriate
clearing procedure before all turns and before executing any
training maneuver. Proper clearing procedures, combined
with proper visual scanning techniques, are the most effective
strategy for collision avoidance.
Runway Incursion Avoidance
A runway incursion is any occurrence at an airport involving
an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that
creates a collision hazard or results in a loss of separation
with an aircraft taking off, landing, or intending to land. The
three major areas contributing to runway incursions are:

Communications,

Airport knowledge, and

Flight deck procedures for maintaining orientation.

Taxi operations require constant vigilance by the pilot and can

be assisted by the passenger. This is especially true during
ight training operations. Both the student pilot and the ight
instructor need to be continually aware of the movement and
location of other aircraft and ground vehicles on the airport
movement area. Many ight training activities are conducted
at nontowered airports. The absence of an operating airport
control tower creates a need for increased vigilance on the
part of pilots operating at those airports.
Planning, clear communications, and enhanced situational
awareness during airport surface operations will reduce the
potential for surface incidents. Safe aircraft operations can be
accomplished and incidents eliminated if the pilot is properly
trained from the outset and, throughout his or her ying
career, accomplishes standard taxi operating procedures and
practices. This requires the development of the formalized
teaching of safe operating practices during taxi operations.
Positive Transfer of Controls
During flight training, there must always be a clear
understanding between the student and ight instructor of
who has control of the aircraft. Prior to any dual training
ight, the instructor should conduct a brieng that includes
the procedure for the exchange of flight controls. The
following three-step process for the exchange of flight
controls is highly recommended.

1-10

When a ight instructor wishes the student to take control

of the aircraft, he or she should say to the student, You
have the ight controls. The student should acknowledge
immediately by saying, I have the ight controls. The ight
instructor conrms by again saying, You have the ight
controls. Part of the procedure should be a visual check to
ensure that the other person actually has the ight controls.
When returning the controls to the ight instructor, the student
should follow the same procedure the instructor used when
giving control to the student. The student should stay on the
controls until the instructor says: I have the ight controls.
There should never be any doubt regarding who is ying the
WSC aircraft. Numerous accidents have occurred due to a
lack of communication or misunderstanding regarding who
actually had control of the aircraft, particularly between
student and ight instructor. Establishing the positive transfer
of controls procedure during initial training will ensure the
formation of a very benecial habit pattern.

Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)

A PICs attitude or mindset must always be alert in order to
maintain the safety of the aircraft, passengers, and the general
public on the ground. To accomplish sound aeronautical
decision-making (ADM), a pilot must be aware of his or
her limitations and well-being (physical and psychological
health), even before beginning the rst preight routine.
While technology is constantly improving equipment and
strengthening materials, safe flight comes down to the
decisions made by the human pilot prior to and during
ight.
The well-being of the pilot is the starting point for the
decision-making process that occurs while in control of the
aircraft. Just as physical fatigue and illness directly affects
a pilots judgment, so too will attitude management, stress
management, risk management, personality tendencies, and
situational awareness. Hence, it is the awareness of human
factors and the knowledge of the related corrective action that
not only improves the safety of operating a WSC aircraft, but
also enhances the joy of ying. [Figure 1-18]
A good starting point is the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), which explains the decisionmaking process, resource management, situational awareness,
pilot error, stress management, risk management techniques,
and hazardous attitude antidotes. After reading and
understanding those subjects, it should be understood that
the scenarios presented are generally for more complex
airplanes, but the thought process and results are the same
for all aircraft. The information is not duplicated but the

Pilot is warned of turbulence and sees

other aircraft with problems, but loses
control of his own trike and almost crashes.

High
Reinforcement

Pilot analysis
of
weather indica
tes it
might be turbu
lent.

Hearing

Low

Visual
Experience by

Touch, Smell

Figure 1-18. Awareness of human factors and how it affects the decision-making process.

differences and additional information specic to WSC is

provided in subsequent sections.
The differences in the more complex airplane requirement
scenarios presented in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge versus WSC aircraft characteristics can easily
be compared. Overall, the advantage of an LSA is the
simpler design requiring less pilot attention than the complex
requirements of more complicated designs that add to the
pilots workload, such as:

Constant speed propellers

Multiple engines

Retractable landing gears

Faster airspeeds

The unique characteristics on the WSC aircraft that increase

ADM tasks are:

Open ight deck where maps or other materials cannot

be opened, shown, and discussed with passenger.

Pusher propeller in the back, through which any

loose item on the ight deck can be pulled, possibly
producing severe damage, depending on the size of
the object.

More physical strength and endurance required to y

in turbulent conditions, which adds an additional risk
element.

Avoiding Pilot Errors

Overall, WSC aircraft are flown for fun and not for
transportation. Generally, it is determined that the pilot
will not y in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
without the assistance and training of the attitude indicator.
Pilots must make the decision to stay out of IMC conditions
and turn back immediately if the situation occurs. This is
what most pilots should do, but the information provided
by the attitude indicator allows pilots to start the error
chain that can lead to catastrophic consequences. The best
immediate decision is always to turn back and not go into
IMC conditions in a WSC aircraft.
With an open ight deck, the problem of items getting loose
and hitting the propeller requires extra caution. Being in a
hurry, not making sure everything is secured, and forgetting
to brief the passenger can trigger one event that leads to
another. Exercising caution in the open ight deck is an
important step for WSC pilots.
If ying a WSC aircraft in turbulence, the pilot must have
both hands on the bar to maintain control of the aircraft.
Therefore, changing radio frequencies, measuring courses
on the map, or operating any of the ight deck controls
becomes difcult and secondary to maintaining control
of the aircraft. This is different from ying an airplane or
a powered parachute, which requires less physical effort
to maintain control of the aircraft and at least one hand is
available to tend to ight deck duties. It must be noted that the

1-11

rst priority always is maintaining control of the aircraft, and

all other duties are secondary. Generally, preight planning
and good pilot judgment would prevent a situation of ying
in moderate to extreme turbulence. However, when you do
nd yourself ying in this situation, y the aircraft rst, and
attend to ight deck duties second.
Scenario-Based Training
A good instructor immediately begins teaching ADM
when the student has the ability to control the WSC aircraft
condently during the most basic maneuvers. The instructor
incorporates scenario-based training in which the instructor
provides pilot, aircraft, environment, and operational risk
elements to train the student to utilize ADM in making
the best decision for a given set of circumstances. During
a prociency or practical test, the instructor or examiner
evaluates the applicants ability to use satisfactory ADM
practices as the pilot determines risks and coordinates safe
procedures.
Resource Management
Resource management is similar to that described in the
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-808325) except the passenger cannot help in the same ways as in
an airplane. The passenger cannot hold or help read the map
unless the pilot has provided a knee board or other means
for the passenger to assist. [Figure 1-19]

Use of Checklists
Checklists have been the foundation of pilot standardization
and ight deck safety for many years and the rst defense
against the error chain that leads to accidents. [Figure 1-20] The
checklist is an aid to the fallible human memory and helps
to ensure that critical safety items are not overlooked or
forgotten. However, checklists are of no value if the pilot is not
committed to their use. Without discipline and dedication in
using a checklist, the odds favor the possibility of an error.

Figure 1-20. Example of a checklist.

The importance of consistent use of checklists cannot be

overstated in pilot training. A major objective in primary ight
training is to establish habitual patterns that will serve pilots
well throughout their ying careers. The ight instructor must
promote a positive attitude toward the use of checklists, and
the student pilot must recognize their importance.
Because of the evolution of WSC aircraft and their simplicity,
it could be thought that written checklists are not required.
Nothing is further from the truth. Following good written
checklists provides signicant safety for human factors,
which is the greatest cause of accidents in aviation.

Figure 1-19. Kneeboards help secure items in the flight deck.

In addition to having the passenger scan the skies for other

aircraft, the passenger can maintain control of the aircraft for
short periods as the WSC is relatively easy to y straight.
This permits the pilot to perform unanticipated flight
deck functions during ight. Overall, preight planning
and passenger briengs are additional tasks of resource
management for the WSC aircraft.
1-12

Five important written checklists must be used before ight.

These specic checklists are emphasized because of their
importance in avoiding pilot errors that can occur before or
during ight:
1.

Preight preparation

2.

Routine preight inspection

3.

Passenger preight brief

4.

Engine start/taxi

5.

Preight check

Because checklists may not be practical in the open ight

deck during ight, and depending on the manufacturer and
make/model of the WSC aircraft, checklists used for climb,
en route, and landing may be placards in the ight deck that
can be read by the pilot in ight or used on kneeboards as
appropriate. Checklists must be secured to prevent their ying
through the propeller during taxi or ight.
An additional written checklist that can be used on the ground
after landing is taxi, engine shutdown, postight inspection,
and securing aircraft.

Medical Factors
A number of physiological effects can be linked to ying.
Some are minor, while others are important enough to
require special attention to ensure safety of ight. In some
cases, physiological factors can lead to inight emergencies.
Some important medical factors that a WSC pilot should
be aware of include hypoxia, hyperventilation, middle ear
and sinus problems, spatial disorientation, motion sickness,
carbon monoxide poisoning, stress and fatigue, dehydration,
heatstroke, and hypothermia. Other factors include the effects
of alcohol and drugs, and excess nitrogen in the blood after
scuba diving.
A prerequisite to this chapter is the aeromedical factors
portion of the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
(FAA-H-8083-25)
which provides detailed
information a pilot must
consider in all flight
operations. All of the
aeromedical factors
described in that book
are applicable to WSC.
However, the following
are additional topics
applicable to WSC not
specically covered.

require signicant strength and endurance. This signicantly

adds to fatigue, as discussed in the Pilots Handbook of
Aeronautical Knowledge. This is accomplished all the time by
experienced pilots, but it is a workout. If this type of workout
is combined with dehydration in a desert environment, a
greater than anticipated headwind, or ying an unfamiliar
cross-country route, the added aeromedical risk factors could
lead to a fatal error chain.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is an important factor and knowledge
requirement in the WSC Practical Test Standards. Cold
temperatures for long periods reduce the inner body core
temperature when the heat produced by the body is less than
the amount of heat being lost to the bodys surroundings.
This loss of heat is highly accelerated in WSC open ight
decks with wind chill. The rst symptom of ying a WSC
aircraft is cold hands because of exposure to wind chill.
Symptoms continue with other parts of the body becoming
cold until the entire body feels cold. Hypothermia results in
weakness, shivering, lack of physical control, and slurred
speech followed by unconsciousness and death. Dressing
warm and/or aircraft heating systems to help the pilot remain
warm during flight prevents hypothermia. Motorcycle
gloves and socks that run off the aircraft electric system
are commonly used and can keep a pilot from getting cold.
[Figure 1-21] Also, carrying an appropriate survival kit

Electric gloves

Fatigue
Because the WSC
aircraft moves weight
through pilot input, there
is significant arm and
upper body strength
required to y a WSC
Wire running to WSC
12-volt electrical system
aircraft, especially in
turbulence. If flying
a cross-country flight
midday in moderate
turbulence for more than Figure 1-21. Motorcycle gloves and socks hooked to the 12-volt WSC electrical system keep the pilot and
an hour, a pilot would passenger warm.
1-13

prepares a pilot against hypothermia if forced down in cold

temperatures.
Medical Summary
Before approaching the WSC aircraft, a pilot must take
a moment to reect upon current medical, physical, and
psychological conditions. During this time, a pilot should
evaluate his or her ability to conduct the ight considering
self, passenger, and people and property on the ground.
Using the IM SAFE checklist is a smart way to start a
preight before getting to the WSC aircraft. Prior to ight,
assess overall tness as well as the aircrafts airworthiness.
[Figure 1-22]
Flight Fitness | The Im Safe Checklist
I Illness

Do I have an illness or any symptoms of

an illness?

M Medication Have I been taking prescription or

over-the-counter drugs?
S Stress

Am I under psychological pressure from my

job? Worried about financial matters, health
problems, or family discord?

A Alcohol

Have I been drinking within eight hours?

Within 24 hours?

F Fatigue

Am I tired and not adequately rested?

E Eating

Am I adequately nourished?

Figure 1-22. Prior to flight, a pilot should assess overall fitness.

1-14

Chapter Summary
This chapter provides basic knowledge that is essential for
WSC pilots and should serve as a starting point for them.
However, there are many other handbooks, advisories, and
regulations with which all WSC pilots should become familiar
as their maturity within the aeronautical realm increases
and/or the need for greater depth of understanding becomes
necessary due to location, temperature, altitude, etc.

Chapter 2

Aerodynamics
Introduction
This chapter focuses on the aerodynamic fundamentals unique
to weight-shift control (WSC) operations. The portions of the
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-808325) on principles of ight and aerodynamics apply to WSC
and are a prerequisite to reading this chapter.
Aerodynamic Terms
Airfoil is the term used for a surface on an aircraft that
produces lift, typically the wing itself. Although many
different airfoil designs exist, all airfoils produce lift in a
similar manner. Camber refers to the curvature of a wing

2-1

when looking at a cross-section. A wing possesses upper

camber on its top surface and lower camber on its bottom
surface. WSC airfoils can be single surface, with one piece of
fabric for most of the airfoil, for slower wings. Faster airfoils
have two surfaces and are called double surface wings, which
are more like an airplane wing. [Figure 2-1] This double

Airplane Airfoil

WSC Airfoil
Single Surface Wing

Chord Lin

Upper C
ambe
r
Lower C
amber

Airfoil Shape of WSC Compared to Airplane

WSC High Point

Relative Wind
Leading Edge
Flightpath
Trailing Edge

Chord Lin

Upper C

Airplane High Point

Farther forward
for stable airfoil

Typical A

Chord Line

ambe
r

irplane

Airfoil

WSC Airfoil

Lower Camber
Figure 2-2. Airplane airfoil compared to WSC airfoil.

Double Surface Wing

Figure 2-1. WSC airfoil terms showing a single surface and a

double surface wing.

surface allows the wing structure to be enclosed inside the

wing, similar to an airplane wing, reducing drag and allowing
for faster speeds for the same thrust. The leading edge is the
forward edge of the airfoil, and the rear edge of the airfoil
is called the trailing edge. The chord line is an imaginary
straight line drawn from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
The WSC airfoil typically uses a different camber with the
airfoil high point farther forward than the airplane airfoil,
creating a more stable airfoil. [Figure 2-2]

The WSC wing is a unique design of airfoils that differ

throughout the wing span. Looking at a top view of the wing,
in the center is the wing root and on each end is the wingtip.
Wing chord is any section of the wing parallel to the wing
root. [Figures 2-3 and 2-4] The wingtip chord is the chord
where the trailing edge is furthest to the rear of the wing. This
can be inboard of the tip (as shown) and can vary depending
on the specic wing design. The nose angle is the angle made
by the leading edges, typically ranging from 120 to 130.
Sweep is the angle measured between the quarter chord line
(line of 25 percent chords) and a line perpendicular to the
root chord. [Figure 2-3]

Top View
Nose Angle

Flightpath

Wing Chords

Sweep Angle
CG

Tip Chord

Quarter Chord

Leading Edge

Wing Root Chord

Figure 2-3. Top view of a WSC wing and aerodynamic terms.

2-2

Trailing Edge

Wing Tip

Looking at the rear view of the wing, anhedral is the angle

the wings make angling down and dihedral is the angle the
wings make angling up. [Figure 2-5] Dihedral is the positive
angle formed between the lateral axis of an airplane and a line
which passes through the center of the wing. Anhedral is the
similar negative angle. Wings with sweep have an effective
dihedral characteristic that counteracts the physical anhedral
to develop the required roll stability for the particular make/
model design objective. This is explained in the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge in much greater detail
for further reference. Unlike airplanes which typically have
signicant dihedral as viewed from the front or back for
roll stability, WSC wings typically have a slight amount of
anhedral as shown in Figure 2-5 and effective dihedral which
is a characteristic of the swept wing design.

Side View

Wing Root

CG

Wing twist is the decrease in chord angle from the root

to the tip chord, common to all WSC wings and ranging
from 5 to 15. This wing twist is also called washout as
the wing decreases its angle of attack from root to tip. The
term billow was originally used for the early Rogallo wings
as the additional material in degrees that was added to the
airframe to create the airfoil. It is still used today to dene the
amount of twist or washout in the wing. The WSC may not
have twist/washout when sitting on the ground, and must be
ying and developing lift to display the proper aerodynamic
twist characteristic of WSC wings. [Figure 2-6]
The longitudinal axis is an imaginary line about which the
aircraft rolls around its center of gravity (CG); it is also
called the roll axis. The longitudinal axis is not necessarily a
xed line through the carriage because the roll axis changes
for different ight congurations, but can be approximated
by the middle of the propeller shaft for a properly designed
WSC aircraft and is typically parallel with the ightpath of
the aircraft as shown in Figure 2-7. Angle of incidence is
the angle formed by the root chord line of the wing and the
longitudinal axis of the WSC aircraft.

Tip Chord

CG

Wing Root

Flightpath

Figure 2-4. Side view of a WSC wing and aerodynamic terms.

Rear View
Leading Edge

Wing Root

Trailing Edge

Tip Chord

Anhedral Angle
(Dihedral would be the
wing angled up)

Wing Span
Wing Tip

Figure 2-5. Rear view of a WSC wing and aerodynamic terms.

2-3

Wing twists from root to tips

ne

d
or

Li

Ch
Cho

ne
d Li

ot

t
ha

A
AO

Ro

hig

ive
lat
e
R ind
W

e
tiv
a
l
Reind
W

A
AO

r
we
lo

i
tm

n
oi
dp

Ch

in
dL

or

A
AO

w
lo

at

tip

tiv
la
e
R ind
W

Figure 2-6. Wing twist shown for a WSC wing in flight.

Control Bar OutSlow Flight
Carriage Hang Point
Root Chord of Wing

Unlike that of an airplane, the WSC angle of incidence has a

signicant change in ight because the carriage is attached to
the wing, which allows the wing to rotate around the carriage
hang point on the wing and is controlled by the pilot as shown
in Figure 2-7.

Control Bar
CG

Longitudinal Axis

Relative Wind
Flightpath

High Angle of Incidence

Control Bar InFast Flight
Carriage Hang Point

Root Chord of Wing

Pitch angle is the angle the WSC wing root chord (center
of wing) makes with the Earths horizontal plane. Many
pilots confuse the pitch angle, which is easily seen and felt,
with the angle of attack (AOA) which is not as perceptible.
For example, if ying in a glide with the engine idle and
the nose lowered, the pitch angle can be below the horizon.
Another example would be ying at full power climb with
the nose raised, resulting in the pitch angle being well above
the horizon. [Figure 2-8] Pitch angles are covered in greater
detail in chapter 6.

Control Bar
CG

Longitudinal Axis

Relative Wind

Low Angle of Incidence

Figure 2-7. Angle of incidence.

2-4

Flightpath

Deck angle is the angle of the carts wheel axles to the landing
surfaces, as in the powered parachute (PPC) deck angle.
Relative wind is the direction of the airow with respect to
the wing; it is parallel to and opposite the WSC ightpath.
Relative wind may be affected by movement of the WSC
through the air, as well as by all forms of unstable, disturbed
air such as wind shear, thermals, and turbulence. When a

WSC is ying through undisturbed air, the relative wind is

parallel to and opposite the ightpath. [Figure 2-7]
AOA is the angle between the relative wind and the wing
chord line. Because of the wing twist, the AOA is greatest
at the wing root and decreases along the wing span to the
tips. This is an important concept covered in the stability
section of this chapter. For changing speeds during gliding,
level ight, and climbs, AOA is the primary control for speed
changes. Lower angles of attack produce higher speeds, and
higher angles of attack result in slower speeds.
The pilot changes the AOA by moving the control
bar forward for high angles of attack and slow speeds
as shown in Figure 2-7 (top) for high angle of incidence and
Figure 2-8 (top) for high pitch angle. Low angles of attack for
fast speeds are shown in Figure 2-7 (bottom) for low angle of
incidence and Figure 2-8 (bottom) for low pitch angle.
Most of the time, the pilot is ying at the cruise AOA,
which is the trim position of the control bar, and the pilot is
neither pushing out nor pulling in on the control bar. This
trim position is the AOA and speed the aircraft ies if the
pilot is ying straight and releases the control bar in calm
air. [Figure 2-9, middle]
Planform is the shape or form of a wing as viewed from
above. The WSC wing comes in a number of planforms
ranging from the larger and slower wings to the smaller and
faster wings.

Figure 2-8. Pitch angle examples of nose high (top) and nose low

(bottom).

High Speed

Aspect ratio is the wingspan divided by the average chord

line. A WSC aircraft with a common 200 square foot training
wing (about a 35 foot wingspan), and with a typical mean
chord line of 7 feet, would have an average aspect ratio of 5.
This relatively low aspect ratio is less efcient at producing
lift. A higher performance wing with 140 square feet, a 35
foot wing span, and an average 5 foot average chord would
have an aspect ratio of 7. The WSC wing is similar to airplane
wings in that the aspect ratio differs with the specic design

Cruise Speed (trim)

Low Speed (near stall)

18
10
3
Angle of Attack

Angle of Attack
Flightpath
Relative Wind

Control bar pulled in

Angle of Attack
Flightpath
Relative Wind

No control bar pressure

Flightpath
Relative Wind

Control bar pushed out

Figure 2-9. Angle of attack effect on speeds, relative wind, and flightpath for level flight.

2-5

mission for the aircraft. For the same wing area and similar
design, the lower aspect ratio wings produce less lift and
more drag; higher aspect ratio wings produce more lift, less
drag, and may require more pilot effort to y, depending on
the design. [Figure 2-10]

Slow TrainerLow Aspect Ratio

Fast Cross-CountryHigh Aspect Ratio

root to the tip along the span of the wing (similar to ribs
for an airplane wing) and a piece of foam or mylar running
along the top side of the leading edge to the high point, which
maintains its front part of the airfoil shape in between the
battens. [Figure 2-11]
Rigid ribs called battens
maintain the airfoil shape.

Foam or mylar maintains the airfoil

shape up to the high point.

Figure 2-11. Rigid airfoil preformed ribs called battens and leading
edge stiffener maintain the rigid airfoil shape.

Some WSC double surface wing designs use a rib similar

to a PPC wing that attaches to the lower surface and the
upper surface to maintain the wing camber in addition to
the battens.
Figure 2-10. Wing planforms showing the slow trainer with a low

aspect ratio and the fast cross-country with a high aspect ratio.

Wing loading is a term associated with total weight being

carried by the wing in relation to the size of the wing. It is the
amount of load each square foot of the wing must support.
Wing loading is found by dividing the total weight of the
aircraft, in pounds, by the total area of the wing, in square
feet. For example, the wing loading would be 5.0 pounds per
square foot when 1,000 pounds total weight for a two-seat
WSC aircraft with two people is supported by a 200 square
foot wing. If ying the same wing with one person and a
lighter total weight of 500 pounds, the wing loading would
be 2.5 pounds per square foot. In the small, high performance
wing of 140 square feet loaded at 1,000 pounds, wing loading
would be 7.1 pounds per square foot.
Gliding ight is ying in a descent with the engine at idle
or shut off. For example, use a glide ratio of 5, which is ve
feet traveled horizontally for every foot descended vertically.
Glide ratios vary signicantly between models.

WSC Wing Flexibility

The WSC wing retains its rigid airfoil shape due to rigid
preformed ribs called battens, which are inserted from the

2-6

Even though the airfoil sections are rigid, the WSC aircraft is
called a ex wing for two reasons. First, it is designed so
the outboard leading edges ex up and back when loaded. The
exing of the outboard section of the wing also allows load
relief because the tips increase twist and decrease AOAthe
greater the weight, the greater the ex and wing twist. This
exing allows the WSC aircraft to automatically reduce loads
in unstable air, providing a smoother ride than a rigid wing.
Since the wing exes and reduces the load for a given angle
of attack at the root chord, WSC aircraft cannot obtain loads
as high as those obtained by a rigid wing. This exing of the
outboard leading edges also assists in initiating a turn.
Second, the wing is designed to ex as it changes twist from
side to side for turning, historically known as wing warping.
WSC wing warping is similar to what the Wright Brothers
did on their early aircraft, but they did it with wires warping
the wing. The WSC aircraft uses no wires and warps the
wing by shifting the weight, which is covered in Chapter 3,
Components and Systems.
This exibility is designed into the wing primarily for turning
the aircraft without any movable control surfaces like the
ailerons and rudder on an airplane.

Forces in Flight
The four forces that affect WSC ight are thrust, drag, lift,
and weight. [Figure 2-12] In level, steady WSC ight:
1.

The sum of all upward forces equals the sum of all

downward forces.

2.

The sum of all forward forces equals the sum of all

backward forces.

3.

The sum of all moments equals zero.

Note that the lift and weight forces are much greater than
the thrust and drag forces. A typical example for many
WSC aircraft is that the lift/weight forces are ve times the
thrust/drag forces.

During level ight, these forces are all horizontal and vertical.
During descents or climbing, these forces must be broken
down into components for analysis.
Dynamic Pressure (q)
Both lift and drag are a direct result of the dynamic pressure
of the air. Dynamic pressure (q) is created from the velocity
of the air and the air density. An increase in velocity has a
dramatic effect on dynamic pressure (q) because it increases
with the square of the velocity. Doubling the velocity means
q increases by four times. Increasing the velocity by a
factor of three means that the dynamic pressure (q) increases
by a factor of nine. This is a very important concept in
understanding the aerodynamics of WSC.
Formula for dynamic pressure: q = V2 x /2
V = velocity

Lift

= density factor

CG

Weight

Thrust

Drag

Lift
Lift opposes the downward force of weight and is produced
by the dynamic effects of the surrounding airstream acting
on the wing. Lift acts perpendicular to the ightpath through
the wings center of lift. There is a mathematical relationship
for lift which varies with dynamic pressure (q), AOA, and the
size of the wing. In the lift equation, these factors correspond
to the terms q, coefcient of lift (CL), and wing surface area.
The relationship is expressed in Figure 2-13.

Flightpath
Relative Wind

Figure 2-12. The four basic forces in level ight.

Thrustthe forward force produced by a powerplant/propeller

as it forces a mass of air to the rear (usually acts parallel to
the longitudinal axis, relative wind, and ightpath).
Dragthe aerodynamic force acting on the wing and carriage
in the same plane and in the same direction as the relative
wind.
Liftthe aerodynamic force caused by air owing over the
wing that is perpendicular to the relative wind.
Weightthe force of gravity acting upon a body straight
down and perpendicular to the Earth.

L = C LV 2 2 S
L = Lift (pounds)
CL= Coefficient of lift
(This dimensionless number is the ratio of lift
pressure to dynamic pressure and area. It is
specific to a particular airfoil shape and, above
the stall, it is proportional to angle of attack.)
V = Velocity (feet per second)
= Air density (slugs per cubic foot)
S = Wing surface area (square feet)
Figure 2-13. The lift equation.

Figure 2-13 shows that for lift to increase, one or more of

the factors on the other side of the equation must increase.
Generally, the lift needed is about the same for most ight
situations. A slower speed requires a higher AOA to produce
the same amount of lift. A faster speed requires a lower AOA
to produce the same amount of lift.

2-7

Because lift is a function of dynamic pressure (q), it is

proportional to the square of the airspeed; therefore, small
changes in airspeed create larger changes in lift. Likewise, if
other factors remain the same while the CL increases, lift also
increases. The CL goes up as the AOA is increased. As air
density increases, lift increases. However, a pilot is usually
more concerned with how lift is diminished by reductions in
air density on a hot day, or if operating at higher altitudes.

Drag
Drag is the resistance to forward motion through the air and
is parallel to the relative wind. Aerodynamic drag comes in
two forms:
1.

Induced draga result of the wing producing lift.

2.

Parasite dragresistance to the airow from the

carriage, its occupants, wires, the wing, interference
drag from objects in the airstream, and skin friction
drag of the wing.

All wings produce lift in two ways:

1.

Airfoil shape creates a higher velocity over the top of

the wing and a lower velocity over the bottom of the
wing with Bernoullis venturi effect.

2.

Downward deflection of airflow because of the

curvature of the wing with the principle of Newtons
Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction.

Both principles determine the lifting force. Review the

Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge to understand
Newtons laws of motion and Bernoullis venturi effect.
Figure 2-14 (top) shows the amount of lift produced along
the wing for an airplane wing with an elliptical planform.
Notice how the amount of lift generated is smallest at the
tips and increases slightly towards the root of the wing. This
is known as the elliptical lift distribution.

Induced drag is the result of lift, and its amount varies as

discussed above for lift. Induced drag creates organized
circular vortices off the wingtips that generally track down
and out from each wingtip. Refer to the Pilots Handbook of
Aeronautical Knowledge for additional discussion on wingtip
vortices formation.
These wingtip vortex formations are typical for all aircraft
that use wings including WSC, PPC, helicopters, sailplanes,
and all xed-wing airplanes. The bigger and heavier the
aircraft, the greater and more powerful the wingtip vortices
are. This organized swirling turbulence is an important
factor to understand and avoid for ight safety. Refer to
the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) or the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25)
for additional discussion.
Parasite drag is caused by the friction of air moving over
all the components of the aircraft. Just as with lift, parasite
drag increases as the surface area of the aircraft increases,
and dramatically increases as airspeed increases (the square
of the velocity). Therefore, doubling the airspeed quadruples
parasite drag. [Figure 2-15]

Weight-shift control
lift distribution

Eliptical
lift distribution

Figure 2-14. Elliptical lift distribution compared to lift distribution

of a WSC wing.
Figure 2-15. Front view with projected area shown that produces

The WSC wing lift distribution is different because the wing

twist at the root is at a higher AOA than the tips. Most of
the lift is produced at the center of the wing with less lift
produced at the tips. The WSC lift distribution is compared
to the lift distribution for an optimum design elliptical wing
in Figure 2-14.
2-8

drag.

The WSC aircraft can be designed for the purpose of being

a slow ying aircraft with a large wing where drag is not a
major concern, or can be designed to be a fast ying aircraft
with a small wing where drag is more of a concern.

The aircraft has plenty of items (area) for the wind to

strike including wing, wires, struts, pilot, carriage, engine,
wheels, tubes, fuel tanks, etc. Parasitic drag can be reduced
by streamlining the items. Round tubes can be streamlined
reducing the drag to one-third, and cowlings can be used
to streamline the pilot and the carriage completely, but not
without the additional expense and additional weight of the
streamlining. Streamlining does make a noticeable difference
in the speed and gas mileage of the WSC, especially for the
faster aircraft. [Figure 2-16]
With the large speed range of WSC aircraft, weight,
complexity, amount and expense of streamlining, and
resultant drag reduction are determined by the specific
mission for the aircraft and the manufacturers make and
model. [Figure 2-17]
Total drag is the combination of parasite and induced drag.
Total drag = parasitic drag + induced drag
To help explain the force of drag, the mathematical equation
D = CD x q x S is used. The formula for drag is the same as
the formula for lift, except the CD is used instead of the CL.
In this equation, drag (D) is the product of the coefcient of
drag (CD), dynamic pressure (q) determined by the velocity
squared times the air density factor, and surface area (S) of
the carriage and wing. The overall drag coefcient is the ratio
of drag pressure to dynamic pressure.
Induced and parasitic drag have opposite effects as AOA
decreases and speed increases. Note the total drag in
Figure 2-18. It is high at the slowest air speeds at high angles
of attack near the stall, decreases to the lowest at the most
efcient airspeed, and then progressively increases as the
speed increases. The WSC wing can y with a large range
of airspeeds.
Generally, the most efcient speed is at the lowest total
drag providing the best rate of climb, glide ratio, and cruise
economy. However, slower speeds provide higher angles
of climb, and faster speeds provide quicker transportation.
[Figure 2-18]

Figure 2-17. Fast WSC aircraft with complete streamlining (top) and
slow WSC aircraft with minimum streamlining (bottom).

Figure 2-16. Air flow around objects.

2-9

Drag

Drag

LD-MAX

Stall

Parasite Drag

Resultant force

Total Drag
Resultant force
of lift and drag
components
that support the
weight during
flight

Lift

ord

Root Wing Ch

Induced Drag

High Angle of Attack

Low Speed

Angle of Attack

Low Angle of Attack

High Speed
CG

Figure 2-18. Airspeed versus drag.

Weight
Weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting upon the
mass of the WSC aircraft. Weight consists of everything
directly associated with the WSC aircraft in flight: the
combined load of the total WSC aircraft (wing, wires, engine,
carriage, fuel, oil, people, clothing, helmets, baggage, charts,
books, checklists, pencils, handheld global positioning
system (GPS), spare clothes, suitcase, etc.).

1
Component
of weight
that
opposes
lift (WL)

WL

Weight

Glides

lope

Relativ
e Wind
Flightp

ath

WD

Component of weight acting along flight path.

(some call this thrust component during gliding flight)(WD)

During gliding flight, weight is broken down into two

components. The component that opposes the lift, acting
perpendicular to ight/glide path, and the component that
opposes the drag and acts in the direction of the ight/glide
path. During gliding ight, this component of weight is the
weight component providing the forward force which some
call thrust for gliding ight.

Figure 2-19. Typical forces in gliding flight with no engine thrust.

During gliding, straight, and descending in unaccelerated

ight:

When in straight and level, unaccelerated ight:

to produce level ight, the relative wind stream becomes

horizontal with the Earth and the AOA remains about the
same. As described for the airplane in the Pilots Handbook
of Aeronautical Knowledge, thrust equals total drag for level
ight. [Figure 2-20]

Lift (L) = Weight (W)

Lift (L) and Drag (D) components = Resultant force (RF)
= Weight (W)
Total Drag (DT) = Weight component (WD) in the direction
of ight
Lift (L) = Weight component (WL) that opposes lift
Similar to airplanes, gliders, and PPC during gliding ight,
less lift is required because the resultant force composed of
lift and drag provides the force to lift the weight. In other
words, in gliding ight, drag helps support the weight.
[Figure 2-19]
Thrust
At a constant air speed, the amount of thrust determines
whether an aircraft climbs, ies level, or descends. With the
engine idle or shut off, a pilot is descending or gliding down.
Maintaining a constant airspeed, when enough thrust is added

2-10

Thrust = Total Drag (DT)

At a constant airspeed, when excess thrust is added to produce
climbing ight, the relative air stream becomes an inclined
plane leading upward while AOA remains about the same.
The excess thrust determines the climb rate and climb angle
of the ightpath. [Figure 2-21]
When in straight and climbing, unaccelerated ight:
Lift (L) = Component of weight that opposes lift
Weight (W) = Resultant force (FR) of lift (L) and excess
thrust to climb (TE)
Thrust = Total drag (DT) plus rearward component of
weight

AOA is the primary control of increasing and decreasing

speeds, and increasing thrust generally does not produce
higher speeds, but additional thrust is required to maintain
level ight at higher speeds.

Drag

ltant
Resu

Lift

ord

g Ch

force

in
oot W

ck
Angle of Atta

Thrust

Earths Horizontal Plane

CG

Flightpath

force
ltant

Resu

Relative Wind

Weight

Thrust

Figure 2-20. Typical forces in level ight.

Lift

ot

Ro

Excess Thrust
(Total thrust
minus Drag)
used to climb

rust
Total th
to climb

ord

Resultant force
required to lift weight

CG

ng
Wi

Ch

ack

f Att

le o

Ang

ve Win

Relati

ath

Thrust required
to overcome
component
of weight

Weight

Flightp

Component of weight
to oppose lift

Ground Effect
Ground effect is when the wing is ying close to the ground
and there is interference of the ground with the airow
patterns created by the wing. At the same angle of attack,
lift increases slightly and the drag decreases signicantly.
The most apparent indication from ground effect is the
unexpected lift given to an aircraft as it ies close to the
groundnormally during takeoffs and landings. More details
for ground effect aerodynamics are found in the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Flight characteristics
for ground effect are covered in the takeoff and landing
chapters.
Center of Gravity (CG)
The CG is the theoretical point of concentrated weight of
the aircraft. It is the point within the WSC aircraft about
which all the moments trying to rotate it during ight are
balanced. The most obvious difference in the CG for a WSC
aircraft is the vertical position compared to an airplane, as
it is always lower than the wing. The Pilots Handbook of
Aeronautical Knowledge accurately states the CG is generally
in the vertical center of the fuselage. The same is true for the
WSC aircraft. However, the WSC wing is higher above the
fuselage/carriage and, since most of the weight is centered
in the carriage, the CG is well below the wing.
In a two-seat WSC aircraft, the second seat is typically behind
the pilots seat and the CG is usually located close to the rear
passenger seat. Therefore, the CG location does not change
signicantly with a passenger. Fuel tanks are typically located
near the vertical CG so any difference in fuel quantity does
not signicantly change the CG fore and aft with different
fuel quantities.
For level ight, the CG is directly below the wing/carriage
attachment point known as the hang point, and the propeller
thrust line is typically designed to be near the vertical position
of the CG. [Figure 2-22]

Figure 2-21. Typical forces in climbing flight.

Thrust Required for Increases in Speed

Above the lowest total drag airspeed [Figure 2-18], faster
speeds (lower angles of attack) for level and climbing ight
requires greater thrust because of the increased drag created
from the faster speeds.

2-11

 Center of gravity is under wing hang point for

level flight.
Center of lift is directly above center of gravity,
above the wing hang point for level flight.

Thrust line is typically

designed to be at vertical
center of gravity

CG

Aircraft center of gravity

Fuel tank

Figure 2-22. CG location with passenger shown for level flight.

rotates the nose down while increasing the AOA (decreasing

speed) rotates the nose up.

Axes of Rotation
The three axes of rotation intersect at the CG.
[Figure 2-23]
Lateral AxisPitch
Motion about the lateral axis, or pitch, is controlled by AOA/
speed and the throttle. Lowering the AOA (increasing speed)
Pitching

Lateral Axis

Figure 2-23. Axes of rotation.

2-12

Increasing the thrust of the propeller rotates the WSC aircraft

pitch up (nose up) to climb and pitch down (nose down) at
reduced throttle.

Rolling

Longitudinal Axis

Yawing

Vertical Axis

Longitudinal AxisRoll
Turning is initiated by rolling about the longitudinal axis, into
a bank similar to an airplane using aileron and rudder control.
To turn, shift the weight to the side in the direction of the turn,
increasing the weight on that side. This increases the twist on
that side while decreasing the twist on the other side, similar
to actuating the ailerons on an airplane. The increased twist
on the side with the increased weight reduces the AOA on the
tip, reducing the lift on that side and dropping the wing into a
bank. The other wing, away from which the weight has been
shifted, decreases twist. The AOA increases, increasing the
lift on that wing and thereby raising it.
Thus, shifting the weight to one side warps the wing (changes
the twist) to drop one wing and raise the other, rolling the
WSC aircraft about the longitudinal axis. [Figure 2-24] More
details on the controls that assist wing warping are covered
in chapter 3, which should be considered with use of the
controls in the takeoff, landing, and ight maneuvers sections
of this handbook.

Normal lift distribution

More lift

Less lift

Lift distribution with wing warped

ft

Creates more twist on R.H.

side with tip reduced AOA
rolls t

right

ht
Weig

sh
ifte

A i rcr a

Creates less twist on L.H.

side with tip increased AOA

t
gh
d to ri

Figure 2-24. Shifting weight to one side warps the wing by

increasing the twist on the loaded side and decreasing the twist on
the unloaded side.

Vertical AxisYaw
The WSC wing is designed to y directly into the relative
wind because it does not provide for direct control of rotation
about the vertical axis.

Stability and Moments

A body that rotates freely turns about its CG. In aerodynamic
terms for a WSC aircraft, the mathematical value of a moment
is the product of the force times the distance from the CG
(moment arm) at which the force is applied.

Typical airplane wings generally pitch nose down or roll

forward and follow the curvature of the upper airfoil camber
creating a negative pitching moment. One of the reasons
airplanes have tails is to create a downward force at the
rear of the aircraft to maintain stabilized ight, as explained
in greater detail in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge.
The WSC wing is completely different and does not need a
tail because of two specic design differencesa completely
different airfoil design creating a more stable airfoil and
lifting surfaces fore and aft of the CG, similar to the airplane
canard design.
WSC Unique Airfoil and Wing Design
As shown in Figure 2-2, the WSC airfoil has the high point
signicantly farther forward than does the typical airplane
airfoil. This makes the center of lift for the airfoil farther
forward and creates a neutral or positive pitching moment
for the airfoil. Most WSC airfoils have this unique design to
minimize negative moments or pitch down during ight.
Additionally, the design of the complete wing is a unique
feature that provides stability without a tail. To understand the
WSC aircraft pitch stability and moments, examine the wing
as two separate componentsroot chord and tip chord.
TrimNormal Stabilized Flight
In Figure 2-25A, during normal unaccelerated ight at trim
speed, the lift at the root (LR) times the arm to the root (AR)
equals the lift of the tip (LT) times the arm to the tip (AT).
(LR x AR) + (LT x AT) = 0
LR + LT = Total Lift of the Wing (LW)
Adding all the lift from the wing puts the center of lift of
the wing (CLW) directly over the CG for stabilized ight.
[Figure 2-25A] If the pilot wishes to increase the trim speed,
the CG is moved forward. This is done by moving the hang
point forward on the wing. Similarly, to reduce the trim speed,
the hang point/CG is moved rearward on the wing.
High Angles of Attack
In Figure 2-25B, if the wing AOA is raised to the point of
minimum controlled airspeed at which the wing begins to
stall towards the center of the wing (root area), the lift in this
area decreases dramatically. The CLW moves back a distance
b creating a moment to lower the nose. Therefore, the
center of lift moves behind the CG at higher angles of attack,
creating a nose-down stabilizing moment. The average lift
coefcient verses AOA is shown for this minimum controlled
airspeed in Figure 2-26. The root area is partially stalled and

2-13

Normal Flight at Trim Speed

Top View

Side View
Nose

A Trim

LW
CLW

LR

CLW

CG

LT

Center of lift at
same longitudinal
position as center
of gravity.

AT

AR

CG

Nose

Low Angle of Attack at High Airspeed

High Angle of Attack at

Minimum Controlled Airspeed

B Minimum

LW

Controlled
Airspeed

CLW

b
CG

CLW

LR

LT

High AOA
CG

Stalled area not producing lift.

Center of lift of wing (CLW)
behind center of gravity.

Center of lift behind center of gravity

creating nose-down moment

Nose

C High Speed

LW
CLW

CLW

CG

LR

Low AOA
CG

Tip area at low angle of attack not producing lift.

Center of lift of wing (CLW) ahead of center of gravity.

Center of lift ahead of center of

gravity creating nose-up moment

Figure 2-25. Trim, minimum controlled airspeed, and high speed pitching moments.

the tips are still ying. The specic stall characteristics of

each wing are different and this stall pattern shown here is
used for example.
Low Angles of Attack
At very low AOA, the tip chords are near zero AOA or below,
not producing any lift, as shown in Figure 2-25C. At this
point, the nose area is producing all of the lift for the wing.
The CLW moves forward a distance c, creating a positive
stabilizing moment to raise the nose.

2-14

Pitch Pressures
As the pilot pushes out on the control bar, this creates a pilot
input force that has a moment arm from the control bar up to
the wing hang point. [Figure 2-27]
From this pilot-induced pitch moment, the control bar is
pushed out, the nose raised, and the AOA increases an equal
amount for both the root and the tip chords. However, as
shown in Figures 2-26 and 2-28, the average CL change is
greater at the low AOA at the tip chords, while the amount

1.5

1.5
.12

Root
at minimum
controlled
airspeed

Tips
1.0

at minimum
controlled
airspeed

1.0

CL

CL

0.5

Root

0.5
.3

Example of
Increasing AOA
3 degrees above trim

Tip

Example of trim AOA

10

15

20

25

10

15

20

25

Angle of Attack

Angle of Attack

Figure 2-26. Example of AOA versus CL for wing at minimum

Figure 2-28. Example AOA versus CL showing the wing increasing

AOA three degrees with the tip CL increasing more than the root.

controlled airspeed.

Based on the same principle, when the wing AOA is lowered

below the trim position, the tip chords CL decreases more
than the root chord and the center of lift for the wing moves
forward creating a positive moment to raise the nose at
lower AOA.

Pilot induced pitch moments

Ar

CG

Pilot input force

Pilot induced pitch moments

Arm
CG

Pilot input force

Figure 2-27. Pilot actuated pitching moment.

of change of the CL is much less at higher AOA at the root

chord. Therefore, an increase in AOA for the wing results in
the tips creating a greater proportion of the lift and moving
the center of lift behind the CG, creating a negative pitching
moment to lower the nose at high AOA.

In situations where the pilot is ying in severe/extreme

turbulence, wind sheer, or the pilot is exceeding the limitations
of the aircraft, the WSC aircraft can get into a situation where
the root chord is at a negative AOA and not producing lift.
This could result in an emergency vertical dive situation, as
discussed later in the Whip Stall-Tuck-Tumble section. When
at very low angles or negative angles of attack, the WSC wing
is designed so that the wing has positive stability or a noseup aerodynamic moment. This is accomplished by a number
of different systems (washout struts, sprogs and reex lines)
further explained in chapter 3 that simply keep the trailing
edge of the wing up in an emergency low/negative AOA
dive situation. As shown in Figure 2-29, the root area of the
wing has reex which creates a positive pitching moment
for the root chord to rotate the nose up towards a level ying
attitude. At the same time, the tips are at a negative AOA
producing lift in the opposite direction as usual, creating a
moment to bring the nose/root chord up to a positive AOA
to start producing lift and raising the nose to a normal ight
condition. The negative lift or downward force as produced
at the tips and root as shown provide a positive moment to
raise the nose back to a normal ying attitude.

2-15

Aerodynamic force at tips

Trailing edge of tips
held up with washout
struts at negative
angle of attack

Tip moment arm

-LT

Reflex in
airfoil creates
force near
trailing edge
of root area

Reflex

arm

Relative Wind

-LR

Reflex lines used

to hold up the
trailing edge

lex
f

orc
em
om
ent

Positive moment
caused by
aerodynamic
force at tips
plus reflex in
airfoil at root
R ef

Wing root at negative AOA

producing no lift

Flightpath

Relative Wind

Trailing edge at center

of wing held up by
reflex lines.

Figure 2-29. Emergency vertical dive recovery for a WSC wing.

Reex also provides a stable pitch up moment for an airfoil

when it is ying at normal ight angles of attack. The greater
the reex, the greater the nose up moment of the airfoil. This
is used in some WSC airfoil designs and also for trim control
as discussed in Chapter 3.

Roll Stability and Moments

As described in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge, more dihedral or less anhedral in a WSC wing
creates more roll stability. More roll stability might be helpful
for a training wing or a fast wing made for long cross-country
straight ight, but most pilots want a balance between roll
stability and the ability to make quicker turns and a sport
car feel for banking/turning. Therefore, a balance between
the stability and the instability is achieved through anhedral
plus other important wing design features such as nose angle,
twist, and airfoil shape from root to tip.
An aerodynamic characteristic of swept wings is an effective
dihedral based on the sweep of the wing and angle of attack.
The combination of the physical anhedral in the wing and the
effective dihedral due to wing sweep provides the balance of
stability and rolling moments for a particular wing design.
The design of the wing can have actual dihedral or anhedral in
the wing. Even with anhedral designed in the inboard section
of the wing, the outboard sections of the wing could have
some dihedral because of the ex in the outboard leading
edges. As the wing is loaded up from additional weight or
during a turn, the tips ex up more creating more dihedral
and a roll stabilizing effect when loaded. [Figure 2-30]
Dihedral from wing flex
Anhedral built into frame

Carriage Moments
The wing design is the main contributing factor for pitch
stability and moments, but the carriage design can also
inuence the pitching moment of the WSC aircraft. For
example, at very high speeds in a dive, a streamlined carriage
would have less drag and, therefore, a greater nose-up moment
because of less drag. The design of the carriage parts can have
an effect on aerodynamic forces on the carriage, resulting in
different moments for different carriage designs.
The drag of the wing in combination with the drag of the
carriage at various airspeeds provides a number of pitching
moments, which are tested by the manufacturera reason
the carriage is matched to the wing for compatibility. Each
manufacturer designs the carriage to match the wing and takes
into account these unique factors.

Pitch Moments Summary

Overall, the amount of sweep, twist, specic airfoil design
from root to the tip, and the carriage design determine the
pitching moments of the WSC aircraft. Some have small
pitching moments, some have greater pitching moments.
Each WSC model is different with a balance of these
aerodynamic parameters to accomplish the specic mission
for each unique carriage and wing combination.
2-16

Figure 2-30. Wing front view example showing anhedral in the

middle of the wing and dihedral at the outboard section of the wing
because of leading edge flex.

Generally, it is thought that the wing remains level and the

weight shifts to the side to initiate a turn. Another way to
look at how the WSC wing rolls is to examine the carriage
and the wing moment from the carriage point of view. For
example, the CG hangs far below a wing weighing of
the carriage weight. When the control bar is moved to the
side, creating a moment about the carriage/wing hang point,
the carriage stays vertical and the wing rotates around the
carriage. Therefore, there are two rolling moments that both
contribute to the WSC rolling into a bank:

The pilot creating the force on the control bar rotating

the wing about the wing/carriage hang point.

Shifting weight to one side of the wing, thus warping

the wing to aerodynamically change the lift on each
side, as in airplane roll control. [Figure 2-31]

Smaller area
creating loss of drag

Pilot input roll moments

Flightpath

Larger area
creating more drag

Arm
CG

Pilot input force

Relative Wind

Resultant roll moments about CG

Figure 2-31. Pilot induced moments about wing/carriage hang point

and resultant CG rolling moment.

Yawed to the left, the wing

automatically rotates
into the relative wind

Figure 2-32. Yaw correction about the vertical axis.

Carriage Moments
Carriage weight and resultant CG are the main factors that
contribute toward increasing the roll moment for the carriage.
Carriage aerodynamic forces are not typically a factor for
rolling moments.

Roll Stability Summary

Overall, roll stability and moments are a manufacturer/
make/model balance between dihedral/anhedral, wing twist,
nose angle, airfoil shape from root to tip, and leading edge
stiffness. Some designs are stable, others neutral, and others
can be designed to be slightly unstable for quick side-to-side
rolling.
Yaw Stability and Moments
There is no signicant turning about the vertical axis because
the WSC wing is designed to y directly into the relative
wind. Any sideways skidding or yaw is automatically
corrected to y straight with the swept wing design. An
airplane uses the vertical tail to stabilize it to y directly into
the relative wind like a dart. The unique design of the WSC
aircraft performs the same function through the swept wing
design, but also the wing twist and airfoil shape from root to
tip assists in the correction about the vertical axis. A simple
way to understand the yaw stability is to see that any yawing
motion is reduced simply through the increased area of the
wing as it rotates about its vertical axis. [Figure 2-32]
There is a slight amount of adverse yaw similar to an airplane
that can be noticed when a roll is rst initiated. The amount
varies with the specic manufacturers design and make/
model. In addition, the wing can yaw side to side to some
degree, with some different manufacturers make/model

more than others. The higher performance wings with less

twist and a greater nose angle are noted for less yaw stability
to gain performance. These wings also require more pilot
input and skill to minimize yaw instability through pitch
input. An addition to the wing planform, twist, and airfoil
shapes to minimize yaw, some wings utilize horizontal
stabilizers similar to these in airplanes and others use tip ns.
[Figure 2-33] Generally, the WSC wing is yaw stable with
minor variations that are different for each wing and can be
controlled by pilot input, if needed.

Figure 2-33. Keel pockets and horizontal stabilizers are additional

tools designers use for yaw stability on the wing.

Carriage Moments
The wing is a signicant factor in the design of yaw stability,
but the carriage can be a large factor also. If the area in front
of the CG is greater than the area in back of the CG, and
the wing yaws to the side, then the front would have more

2-17

drag and create a moment to yaw the WSC aircraft further

from the straight ight. Therefore, ns are sometimes put
on the carriage as needed so the carriage also has a yawing
aerodynamic force to track the WSC aircraft directly into the
wind. [Figure 2-34]

Thrust line below the center of gravity

Thrus

t line

CG

Thrust line above the center of gravity

CG

ust

Thr

line

Figure 2-35. Thrust line moments.

Figure 2-34. Wheel fins for carriage yaw stability.

Since the carriage has such a large effect on yaw stability,

the carriage is matched to the wing for overall compatibility.
Each manufacturer designs the carriage to match the wing and
takes into account these unique factors of each design.

Yaw Stability Summary

These factors make the WSC aircraft track directly into
the relative wind and eliminate the need for a rudder to
make coordinated turns. Designs and methods vary with
manufacturer and wing type, but all WSC wings are designed
to track directly into the relative wind.
Thrust Moments
WSC aircraft designs can have different moments caused by
thrust based on where the thrust line is compared to the CG.
This is similar to an airplane except the WSC aircraft has no
horizontal stabilizer that is affected by propeller blast.
If the propeller thrust is below the CG [Figure 2-35, top],
this creates a pitch-up moment about the CG when thrust is
applied and a resultant decrease in speed. When reducing
the throttle, it reduces this moment and a nose pitch down
results with an increase in speed.

2-18

If the propeller thrust is above the CG [Figure 2-35, bottom],

this creates a pitch-down moment about the CG when thrust
is applied and a resultant increase in speed. When reducing
the throttle, it reduces this moment and a nose pitch up results
with a decrease in speed.
With the thrust line above or below the CG producing these
minor pitch and speed changes, they are usually minor for
most popular designs. Larger thrust moments about the CG
may require pilot input to minimize the pitch and speed
effects. Most manufacturers strive to keep the thrust as close
as possible to the vertical CG while also balancing the drag of
the carriage and the wing for its speed range. This is why the
carriage must be matched to the wing so these characteristics
provide a safe and easy to y WSC aircraft.

Stalls: Exceeding the Critical AOA

As the AOA increases to large values on the wing chord,
the air separates starting at the back of the airfoil. As the
AOA increases, the separated air moves forward towards the
leading edge. The critical AOA is the point at which the wing
is totally stalled, producing no liftregardless of airspeed,
ight attitude, or weight. [Figure 2-36]

Pitch attitude for

normal dive recovery

Wing stalls due

to an excessive
angle of attack

Turbulence

Phase 2

No
se
ro t

ates

down

Whip Stall

Wing comletely
stalled and very
high pitch angle

Phase 1

Laminar airflow

Vertical dive

In most normal situations, the root chord/nose stalls rst

because it is at a much higher AOA. The tips continue to y,
making the WSC wing resistant to a complete wing stall. A
pilot can even bring the aircraft into a high pitch angle stall
attitude and keep the nose high. The nose stalls and rotates
down because of the loss of lift, while the tips keep ying
and maintain control of the aircraft.
If ying within the operating limitations of the aircraft and
the WSC reaches a high AOA, the nose stalls, but the tips
continue ying. However, it must be understood that there are
many wing designs with many types of stall characteristics
for each unique design. For example, high-performance
wings could have less twist to gain performance, which
could cause the wing to stall more abruptly than a training
wing with more twist.

Nose is tucked under

Phase 4

Because the AOA of the WSC wing root chord/nose is so much

higher than the AOA of the tips, the nose stalls before the tips.
It is similar to stalling with the airplane canard in which the
nose stalls rst, the main wing (or tips for the WSC aircraft)
continues to y, and the nose drops due to lack of lift.

Phase 3

Figure 2-36. Stall progression for an airfoil chord as the angle of

attack is increased.

Tumble

Figure 2-37. Whip stall to tumble phases and sequence.

Whip StallTuckTumble
A WSC aircraft can get to a high pitch attitude by ying
outside the its limitations or flying in extreme/severe
turbulence. If the wing gets to such a high pitch attitude and
the AOA is high enough that the tips stall, a whip stall occurs.
[Figure 2-37]

In a WSC wing, most of the area of the wing is behind the CG

(about three-quarters). With the tips and aft part of the wing
having the greatest drag, and the weight being forward, an
immediate and strong nose-down moment is created and the
WSC nose starts to drop. Since both the relative wind and the
2-19

wing are rapidly changing direction, there is no opportunity

to reestablish laminar airow across the wing.
This rotational momentum can pull the nose down into a
number of increasingly worse situations, depending on the
severity of the whip stall. Figure 2-37 shows a whip stall and
the phases that can result, depending on the severity.
Phase 1Minor whip stall results in a nose-down pitch
attitude at which the nose is at a positive AOA and the
positive stability raises the nose to normal ight, as
described in Figure 2-25C.
Phase 2If the rotational movement is enough to
produce a vertical dive, as illustrated in Figure 2-29,
the aerodynamic dive recovery might raise the nose
to an attitude to recover from the dive and resume
normal ight condition.
Phase 3The rotational momentum is enough to bring
the nose signicantly past vertical (the nose has tucked
under vertical), but could still recover to a vertical dive
and eventually resume a normal ight condition.
Phase 4The rotational momentum is severe enough
to continue rotation, bringing the WSC wing into a
tumble from which there is no recovery to normal
ight, and structural damage is probable.
Avoidance and emergency procedures are covered in Chapter
6, Basic Flight Maneuverers, and Chapter 13, Abnormal and
Emergency Procedures.

Weight, Load, and Speed

Similar to airplanes, sailplanes, and PPCs, increasing weight
creates increases in speed and descent rate. However, the
WSC aircraft has a unique characteristic. Adding weight to
a WSC aircraft creates more twist in the wing because the
outboard leading edges ex more. With less lift at the tips, a
nose-up effect is created and the trim speed lowers.
Therefore, adding weight can increase speed similar to other
aircraft, but reduce the trim speed because of the increased
twist unique to the WSC aircraft. Each manufacturers
make/model has different effects depending on the specic
design. As described in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge, the stall speed increases as the weight or loading
increases so some manufacturers may have specic carriage/
wing hang point locations for different weights. Some require
CG locations to be forward for greater weights so the trim
speed is well above the stall speed for the wing.
WSC aircraft have the same forces as airplanes during normal
coordinated turns. Greater bank angles result in greater
resultant loads. The ight operating strength of an aircraft

2-20

is presented on a graph whose horizontal scale is based on

load factor. The diagram is called a VG diagramvelocity
versus G loads or load factor. Each aircraft has its own VG
diagram which is valid at a certain weight and altitude. See
the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for more
details on the VG diagram. Load factors are also similar to
the VG diagram applicable to WSC.

Basic Propeller Principles

The WSC aircraft propeller principles are similar to those
found in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge,
except there is no corkscrewing effect of the slipstream
and there is less P-factor because the carriage is generally
ying with the thrust line parallel to the relative wind. The
wing acts independently, raising and lowering the AOA and
speed. This was introduced at the beginning of this chapter
when angle of incidence was dened.
The torque reaction does have a noticeable effect on the WSC
aircraft. With the typical left hand turn tendency (for right
hand turning propellers), turns are not typically built into the
wing. As in airplanes, some cart designs point the engine
down and to the right. Others do not make any adjustment, and
the pilot accounts for the turning effect through pilot input.
It should be noted that many of the two-stroke propellers turn
to the right, as do conventional airplanes. However, many
four-stroke engine propellers turn to the left, creating a right
hand turn. Consult the POH for the torque characteristics of
your specic aircraft.

Chapter Summary
Basic principles of aerodynamics apply to all aircraft;
however, the unique design of the wing and the separate
fuselage/carriage provide a simplistic and efcient aircraft.
The following provide a summary of the unique aerodynamics
for the WSC wing:

The WSC wing is pitch stable without a tail because

of the combination of airfoil design from root to tip,
sweep, twist, and planform.

WSC wing exibility allows the wing to twist from

side to side by shifting the weight providing the control
to roll the aircraft without control surfaces.

The WSC wing only has two axes of control, pitch

and roll, while no yaw control is needed because it is
yaw stable.

The WSC wing is stall resistant because under normal

ight conditions the tip chord is still ying while the
rest of the wing is stalledsimilar to the airplane
canard system.

Chapter 3

Components
and Systems
Introduction
Weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft come in an array of shapes
and sizes, but the basic design features are fundamentally the
same. All WSC consist of a exible wing made with a sail
tted over a rigid airframe. A separate carriage is the fuselage
which consists of the ight deck, propulsion system, and
landing gear. [Figure 3-1]

3-1

WING

CARRIAGE
Propulsion System
Flight Deck
Landing Gear

Figure 3-1. Wing and carriage of WSC aircraft.

Wing
The wing has a structural frame that the sail fits over.
Although the wing structure is rigid, it is designed to move
and allow the sail to ex and the wing to deform or warp,
to provide a simple control system with no pulleys, push
rods, hinges, control cables, or separate control surfaces. This
simplies maintenance and reduces the cost and weight of
the wing. Each wing is built from high quality aircraft parts
including alloyed aluminum tubes, stainless steel cables,
hardware, and specially designed sail cloth.
Wing Frame Components
The structural frame of the wing is composed of the leading
edges, keel, crossbar, pilot control frame, king post and wires/
struts. The wing frame is a number of structural triangles
formed by the wing components. These triangles, braced by
wires and struts, provide a strong and lightweight frame to
support the exible sail. [Figure 3-2]

Leading Edges
Leading edges are tube assemblies that are at the front of the
wing, the leading edges of the wing airfoil. These are swept
back to form the front shape of the wing and attached to each

3-2

other with nose plates. The leading edges support the airfoil
and are designed to ex as part of the wing structure.
The leading edges are each made up of two main
sections, an inboard and an outboard section, as shown in
Figures 3-2 and 3-3. Additional tubing sleeves are typically
used for added strength where the leading edge attaches to
the nose plates, and where the inboard and outboard tubes
join at the crossbar attachment. This sleeving can be internal
or external depending on the specic manufacturers design.
Typically, additional sleeving is used throughout the leading
edges at various locations to strengthen and vary the ex for
the particular design of the wing. Each manufacturer and
make/model uses different internal and external sleeving
to accomplish specic strength and ex characteristics.
Generally, the inboard sections are stiffer and the outboard
leading edge section exes as part of the exible wing
design. Sleeving is commonly added throughout the aircraft
where bolt holes are drilled through the tubing to reinforce
it around the bolt hole.
The outboard leading edge sections can be removed to pack
up the wing into a short pack which is commonly used for
shipping. [Figure 3-3]

Upper CablesGround Wires

King Post

Leading Edge Tube

Nose Plates

Leading Edge Tube

Crossbar
Crossbar Tensioning Cables

Crossbar Tensioning
Cables Attachment

Keel

Downtubes
Control Bar
Control Frame

Crossbar

Lower CablesFlying Wires

Figure 3-2. Wing frame components.

Keel
The wing keel is like that of a boat keel, the center of the
wing, fore and aft. It attaches to the leading edges at the nose
plate and performs a number of important functions. It is the
structure where the carriage attaches to the wing, and it is the
wing structure that connects the center section of the sail at
the keel pocket (discussed later in this chapter in the sail
section). The control frame and king post (if so equipped) also
attaches to the keel. It also provides structure for the upper
and lower wires (if so equipped) and a reference or anchor

for the crossbar which needs some movement in relation to

the keel for roll control.
The keel is rigid and is not designed to ex nor is it highly
stressed like the leading edges except where the under
carriage attaches to the wing. Sleeving is normally added to
strengthen this middle area as well at the nose attachment
and rear cable attachments.

Outboard leading edge

release for short pack

Nose plate attaches here

Internal Sleeve

Inboard

Wing Tip
External Sleeve

Crossbar attaches here

Outboard

Figure 3-3. Leading edge assembly.

3-3

Crossbar

Control Frame

The crossbar is two aluminum tube sections hinged above the

keel that attach to the leading edges. The crossbar is tensioned
back with the crossbar tensioning cables, which pushes the
leading edges forward to conform to the sail. These crossbar
tensioning cables are attached at the rear of the keel when the
wing is tensioned into ying position. [Figure 3-4]

The triangle-shaped control frame serves two main purposes.

It provides the lower structure for the wing and is the control
bar for the pilot. The control frame is bolted to the keel
with two downtubes extending from the keel attachment
to the horizontal base tube, which is the pilots control bar.
[Figures 3-2, 3-5, and 3-6]

Crossbar

Leading Edge

Front Flying Wire

Downtube

Rear Flying Wire

Side flying wires. Some

designs use two flying
wires for each side
Crossbar Tensioning Cables

Control frame corner bracket

Control Bar

Figure 3-5. Control frame corner bracket with wire attachments.

Notice the thick structural -inch flying wires that support the
wing and smaller -inch cables holding the control frame in
place fore and aft.

Crossbar Tensioning Cables

Attachment to Rear of Wing Keel

Figure 3-4. View looking inside left hand wing from the tip showing

crossbar tensioned and pushing the leading edges into the sail.
Notice the slight bending of the leading edges to fit into the sail
(top). Crossbar tensioning cables attached to rear of keel in flying
position detail. See specific location on airframe with figure 3-2.
(bottom).

These crossbar sections are under a compression load and

designed to be stiff with no bending. A larger diameter tube is
typically used to avoid any bending when the wing is ying.
A ding, dent, or bend in the crossbar could spell disaster
during ight because it is one of the main structural members
that holds leading edges into position during ight.
For wing take down and packing, the crossbar haul back
cables are released, the crossbar hinged center moves
forward, and the leading edges rotate in toward the keel about
the nose plates and come together, allowing the wing to fold
down into a long tube for transport and/or storage.

3-4

Front Flying Wires

Rear Flying Wires
Side Flying Wires
Control Bar
Control Frame
Corner Brackets
Down Tubes

Figure 3-6. Control frame with downtubes, control bar, and corner

bracket with flying wing wires, and control frame fore and aft
wires.

Control frame corner brackets at the bottom of the downtubes

provide the wing structural attachments for the ying cables
or struts that attach to each leading edge/crossbar junction,
and secure the control bar fore and aft to the wing with the
front and back wires attached to nose plates and the aft section
of the keel. [Figures 3-5 and 3-6]

During ight, the downtubes are similar in compression to the

crossbar and must be stiff and straight to maintain structural
integrity. The base tube/control bar is under tension during
ight.
Front and rear ying wires hold the control frame in place
fore and aft. Side ying wires hold the control frame in place
side to side and provide structure to hold the wings in place
while ying. [Figures 3-2, 3-5, and 3-6] Strutted wings use
struts in place of the side ying wires, which is discussed
later in this chapter.

Topless Wings With Struts

Similar to airplanes with struts to support the wings, some
WSC aircraft replace side ying wires with struts, eliminating
the king post and ground wires on top of the wing. This
provides a number of benets, but primarily, no king post is
needed because the struts can take a compression load and
hold the wings up on the ground and also take the negative
loads during ight. With struts, a WSC aircraft is much shorter
in height allowing it to t into hangars with lower doors and
ceilings. This can make a big difference in nding a suitable
storage for the aircraft if leaving it set up. [Figure 3-8]

Training bars are added for dual controls so the person in back
can y the aircraft. These are typically used by an instructor
for training but can be used by a passenger in the back also.
[Figure 3-7]

King Post With Wires-on-Top Wing Design

Similar to the lower control frame holding the wing in
position during ight, the king post is attached to the keel
and supports the upper ground wires which hold the wing
in position on the ground and negative loads during ight.
[Figure 3-2] It also provides a structure for reex lines which
is discussed later in wing systems.
Figure 3-8. Strutted wing on WSC aircraft carriage.

Training bars used

for steering from
the back seat

Figure 3-7. Passenger using training bars which are also used by the instructor during training.

3-5

Some strutted designs allow the wings to be folded back while

still on the carriage. This can also be helpful when using a
smaller space for storage by folding the wing up without
taking it off the carriage. [Figure 3-9] It is also convenient
for sea trikes since the aircraft does not have to be taken out
of the water to fold up the wing.

Figure 3-10. Clean upper surface of strutted wing.

Modern sails are designed with complex geometry and sewn

to precision to achieve a highly efcient design. Because of the
exibility of the wing frame and the modern techniques in sail
design, the leading edge can have a curved shape which adds
to the efciency and stability of the wing. [Figure 3-11]

Leading Edge

Leading Edge
Figure 3-9. A strutted wing folded back so it can fit into a trailer for
storage and easy transport (top). Strutted wing with wings folded
back for easy storage (bottom).

Strutted wings have a clean upper surface with no holes

required for the king post or wires to go through the top
of the sail. This reduces interference drag on the top of the
wing. Increasing overall efciency, no holes in the sail also
eliminates any high pressure leakage from underneath the
wing getting sucked up to the lower pressure on top of the
wing. [Figure 3-10]
Leading Edge

Sail Components
The sail is a highly rened design that integrates with its
wing frame. Each sail and wing frame are designed for each
other and are not interchangeable with other sails or wings.

3-6

Figure 3-11. Curved leading edge sail design.

Battens and Leading Edge Stiffener

As discussed in the aerodynamics section, stiff preformed
battens are the airfoil ribs that maintain the airfoil shape from
the root to the tips. Additionally, a foam or mylar stiffener is
inserted in a pocket at the leading edge to keep a rigid airfoil
shape between the battens from the leading edge up to the
airfoil high point. Double surface wings have additional ribs
on the bottom surface that are straight or formed to maintain
the bottom surface camber.

Sail Material and Panels

Sail material is a combination of polyester materials designed
with different weaves, thickness, and orientation to t the
design mission of the wing. Panels are cut to different shapes
and laid down at different angles to provide the stiffness
and exibility where needed for the specic wing design.
Automated machines typically cut the fabric to precision
tolerances and the panels are sewn together with high strength
thread.

Pockets and Hardware

Pockets are added for battens and hardware is installed for
the wing frame and wire attachments. Trailing edge line or
wires are sometimes added for reinforcement and can be used
for tuning. Battens are held in with a variety of batten ties or
other methods unique to the manufacturer. [Figure 3-12]

Figure 3-13. Keel pocket.

Cables and Hardware

Cables are used throughout the wing frame and sail to hold
components in place and act as structure to carry loads. Flight
and ground cables are stainless steel and attach to components
with tangs or other hardware depending on the application.
Cables are secured at each end with thimbles and swaged
ttings. Figure 3-5 shows detail of typical swaged ttings.
A variety of hardware is used for attaching these swaged
cable ttings to the airframe. Each manufacturer has different
hardware for wing components. [Figures 3-14 and 3-15]

Figure 3-12. Trailing edge of the sail showing reinforcement panels,

trailing edge line, and batten ties with attachment hardware.

Figure 3-14. Crossbar tensioning junction attachment example.

Sail Attachment to Wing Frame

The sail is attached to the wing frame at the nose and the
tips. A keel pocket towards the back of the sail secures the
sail to the wing keel. [Figure 3-13]

3-7

Figure 3-15. View inside wing showing top wire coming though
sail that is reinforced, being attached to the crossbar by a tang, an
aircraft bolt, washers, and lock nut.

Wing Systems

Reex Systems

Figure 3-16. Reflex cables.

As discussed in the aerodynamics section, the trailing edge

near the root and the tips must stay up during unusually low or
negative angles of attack [Figure 2-29] to maintain a positive
pitch stability for the aircraft. There are a number of reex
systems used to accomplish this in emergency situations.
Reex cablesmost wings with a king post use cables to
hold the trailing edge up at unusually low or negative angles
of attack. These reex cables are secured to the top of the
king post and attach to several positions on the trailing edge
where the battens are located. Different manufacturers have
different positions where these are attached, depending on
the design of the wing. Reex cables also provide additional
reex at high speeds because the drag of the wires pulls up
the trailing edge, creating more reex at these higher speeds.
[Figure 3-16]

Washout Strut

Figure 3-17. Washout struts.

Washout strutstubes near the tips that keep the tip trailing
edge up during very low or negative angles of attack. They
can be inside or outside the double surface of a wing. The
reex cables may not go to the wingtip, so washout struts
are used to hold up the trailing edge at the tip at very low
and negative angles of attack. [Figure 3-17]

Sprog

Sprogsfor wings using struts with no king post, sprogs

are used to keep the inboard trailing edge up in place of the
reex cables. A wire attached to the top of the leading edge
holds the sprog up in place. [Figure 3-18]

Pitch Control System

Washout Strut

The pitch control system is a simple hinge on the keel at the

hang point that allows the pilot to push the control bar out and
Figure 3-18. Sprogs for strutted wing.

3-8

pull the control bar in to control pitch. This wing attachment

is different for each manufacturer, but all designs have this
hang point wing attachment so the control bar is always
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. This
raising and lowering of the nose is the pitch control system
for the WSC aircraft. [Figures 2-7 and 3-19]

Top View

Far Back View

Figure 3-20. Shifting weight to the right pulls the keel to the right
(or lets the crossbar shift to the left) and increases twist on the right
side for roll control.

Figure 3-19. Hang point wing attachment.

Roll Control System

Control bar movement from side to side controls the roll about
the longitudinal axis. The wing attachment hang point allows
the carriage to roll around the wing keel. Thus, it can also be
looked at from the carriage point of view, when the control
bar is moved side to side, the wing rotates around the wing
keel relative to the carriage. [Figures 2-31 and 3-19]
It would rst appear that moving the control bar to one side,
thus shifting weight to the opposite side, could alone bank
the aircraft. It is true that shifting weight to the right would
naturally bank the aircraft to the right and put it into a right
hand turn. However, the weight alone is not enough to provide
adequate roll control for practical ight.
As weight is moved to one side, the keel is pulled closer to
that sides leading edge. The actual keel movement is limited
to only 1 to 2 inches each side of center. However, this limited
keel movement is sufcient to warp the wing, changing the
twist side to side (as discussed earlier in the aerodynamics
section) to roll the aircraft [Figure 2-24] by changing the
lift side to side. Simply, the shifting of weight from side to
side pulls the keel toward the leading edge on that side and
warps the wing to roll the aircraft.
Besides the keel shifting relative to the leading edges and
crossbar, overall roll control is adjusted by the designers to
t the mission of the wing through sail material/stiffness,
leading edge stiffness/exibility, amount of twist, amount
of travel the keel is allowed, airfoil shape, and the planform
of the wing. [Figures 3-20 and 3-21]

Strap attached to crossbar

that goes around wing keel,
limiting its travel side to side.

Figure 3-21. Crossbar travel limiter.

Trim Systems
There are a number of trim systems to relieve the control
pressures for pilots to y at different hands off trim speeds.
Ground adjustable trim allows the pilot to adjust the trim
speed of the wing on the ground and remain at one speed
during ight, while ight adjustable trim systems can change
the trim speed in ight.

Ground Adjustable Trim Systems

The most common ground adjustable trim system, and typical
of most aircraft, is moving the wing attachment hang point
forward for faster trim speeds and aft for slower trim speeds.
Each manufacturer has different hardware, but the basics of
sliding the carriage wing hang point forward and backward
on the keel is similar for all. As an example, moving the
hang point at the furthest aft position to the furthest forward
position could speed the wing up 20 knots. This in turn
moves the control bar position back to a new hands off
trim speed.
3-9

Another less commonly used method of increasing trim

speed is to increase tension on the crossbar by pulling it back
further, slightly increasing the nose angle and reducing twist.
This increases the angle of attack (AOA) of the tips producing
more lift, and it lowers the nose to a higher trim speed. This
is a typical in-ight trim adjustment for high performance
hang gliders. The roll control is diminished with this faster
and stiffer wing.

or electrical systems can move the hang point on the wing

for other inight trim systems. [Figure 3-23]

Ground adjustable trim systems are described in the Pilot's

Operating Handbook (POH) for each aircraft. Different loads
may require different pitch settings.

Inight Adjustable Trim Systems

Being able to adjust the trim systems in ight has a number of
advantages as discussed later in the ight sections. A number
of inight adjustable systems are available with different
manufacturers. A common in-ight adjustable trim system
is raising and lowering the trailing edge. Raising the trailing
edge increases airfoil reex and slows the wing. Lowering
the trailing edge decreases airfoil reex and speeds up the
wing. Typically, a crank on a downtube controls a wire that
runs up the downtube to the top of the wing. As a result of
moving the crank, the trailing edge wires are raised and
lowered and the trim speed changed. [Figure 3-22] Hydraulic

Figure 3-23. Hydraulic inflight trim systems that move the hang

point in flight controlled by the pilot.

Another pilot-actuated trim system in ight is an elastic

system in which the pilot increases tension on the elastic
system which raises the nose for climb and slower ight.
[Figure 3-24]
l
ee

lK

et
ck
Po
l
e

a
Re

Ke

nt

Fro

el
Ke

Elastic pulling
down on keel
raising nose.

Nose

Figure 3-24. More tension on elastic pulling down on the rear of

the wing keel reduces the trim speed and is controlled by the pilot
in flight.

Carriage

Figure 3-22. A crank on the downtube of the control bar that adjusts
the trailing edge reflex during flight.

3-10

The carriage is a completely separate structure from the

wing. Without the wing, the carriage can be driven around
if needed. Most of the weight and cost of the WSC aircraft
is in the carriage. There is a wide range of carriage designs
from the most simple and basic open trikes to the more
sophisticated and complex trikes that integrate cowlings and
offer a number of adjustments for the pilot and passenger,
resulting in comfort and less fatigue during ying. Generally,

Figure 3-25. Simple basic trike (left) and sophisticated trike with adjustments for pilot and passenger (right).

the more complex the trike, the more it costs, weighs, and the
more power it requires for similar wings. [Figure 3-25]
Structure
Similar to the wing, the carriage is designed with a number
of structural triangles for optimum strength and minimum
weight. Each manufacturer and model have specific
details that vary, but
the carriage structure is
typically a mast, keel,
Wing Keel
and front tube that
form the main triangle
components of the
Carriage Wing Attachment Hang Point
carriage structure with
the wing attachment
at the top of the mast.
A seat frame attached
Carriage Mast
to the mast and keel
provides rigidity to the
Engine Mount
main components while
providing structure for
the pilot and passenger.
[Figure 3-26]
Landing struts attached
to the rear wheels
provide structure for the
main landing gear, and
a front fork provides the
landing gear structure
for the front wheel. An
engine mount attaches
to the mast, providing
structure for the
propulsion system to
attach to the carriage.
[Figure 3-26]

Landing Gear
The landing gear provides support to the WSC aircraft on
the ground and absorbs the shock to reduce the stresses on
the pilot and the aircraft during landings.

Front Tube

Seat Frame

Carriage Keel

RIGHT HAND MAIN

LANDING GEAR*
Shock Strut
Main Strut
Drag Strut

Front Landing Gear

Nose Wheel Steering

Main Landing Gear Tires

* Conventional configuration shown with other configurations

described in main landing gear section of this chapter.

Front Fork

Figure 3-26. Basic components of the carriage structure.

3-11

The landing gear is made up of the front wheel, which has

a lighter load and is used for steering, and the main or rear
landing gear, which takes most of the load for the aircraft.
[Figure 3-26] The front steering fork for the nosewheel has
foot rests attached that the pilot uses for steering the WSC
aircraft on the ground. Besides ground steering, the foot
controls are similar to driving a car, left foot pedal is brakes
on the ground only, and right foot is throttle and power on the
ground and in ight. [Figure 3-27] The front fork typically
has camber so it naturally tracks in the direction of travel
similar to a motorcycle front fork.

Steering Rod Damper

Figure 3-29. Steering rod damper.

front wheel typically has a disk or a drum brake, mechanical

or hydraulic. [Figures 3-30 and 3-31] A front brake is lighter
and simpler than rear brakes, but some carriage brake systems
utilize the rear brakes.

Figure 3-27. Large foot rests used for steering the aircraft on the
ground (left hand ground brake shown).

For training, a second steering control is installed with a

connecting rod so the instructor can sit in back and steer the
carriage on the ground using the nosewheel. [Figure 3-28]
Steering dampers are sometimes used to stabilize the front
wheel from shimmying at higher speeds during takeoff and
landing. [Figure 3-29] The front wheel sometimes has shock
absorbers or the tire itself can act as the shock absorber. The
Figure 3-30. Mechanical drum brake system.
Front Seat
Steering

A parking brake is extremely useful for securing the aircraft

on the ground without needing chocks for securing the
aircraft before takeoff and after landing. A number of parking
brake systems are utilized by different manufacturers.
[Figure 3-32]
Rear Steering
Connection
Rod to Front Fork

Rear Seat
Foot Steering

Figure 3-28. Foot steering control for instructor in the back seat

and connecting rod to front fork.

3-12

The main landing gear is the two rear wheels of the WSC
aircraft. Since the center of gravity (CG) is much closer to
the rear wheels, most of the weight for the aircraft is carried
on the rear wheels for taxi, takeoff, and landings.
There are a number of different congurations for the main
gear. A conventional conguration has two separate systems
for each rear wheel. Each side is two structural triangles, one

Shock Absorber

Shock Strut
Internal Keel
Vertical
Triangle

Horizontal
Triangle

Drag Strut

Main Strut

Figure 3-31. Hydraulic disk brake system.

Figure 3-33. Conventional landing gear configuration.

Drag Strut
Bungee Shock
Absorber System

Lever holding brake on

Main Strut

Wires used to hold main strut vertically

in place (instead of shock strut used
on conventional gear)
Figure 3-32. Mechanical parking brake system.

horizontal and one vertical. The horizontal triangle consists

of a drag strut from the wheel forward to the keel or forward
structure to maintain the wheels fore and aft position, and
the main landing gear strut. Both the main and the drag
struts can pivot about the attachment to the keel as part of
the shock system.

Figure 3-34. Alternate vertical system utilizing streamlined wires

and bungee cords.

The vertical triangle consists of the main landing strut and the
shock strut attached to the wheel and up to the keel structure
[Figure 3-36] or other structure such as the engine mount
shown in Figure 3-33, which houses the compressed nitrogen
and oil oleo shock absorber.
There are a number of other main landing gear congurations
and shock absorbing systems such as wire bracing
with bungee cord shocks [Figure 3-34], fiberglass or
flexible (fiberglass or steel) main gears with no struts
[Figure 3-35], and any variation of these. Carriages designed
for faster speeds may have streamlined landing gear systems.
[Figures 3-36 and 3-37]

Figure 3-35. Solid flexible main gear.

3-13

Figure 3-38. WSC aircraft with large tundra tires for soft or rough
field operations.

Figure 3-36. Conventional landing gear with streamlined drag

and main struts.

equipped). If ski-equipped, skis are added to the bottom of

the wheels or replace the wheels. If sea-equipped, a complete
system provides aircraft otation and steering using rudders
similar to a boat. The water rudders are foot controlled,
similar to WSCL steering on the ground. Two types of seaequipped systems are the ying boat and pontoon.
The ying boat is a solid or inatable boat that the WSC
aircraft ts into, and its fuselage is secured to as well.
[Figure 3-39] This is generally used for rougher seas in the
ocean and, with the extra drag of the boat itself, this typically
uses a larger wing and is therefore a slower ying WSC
aircraft. The boat design is known to be more stable in rough
seas and assists in keeping less water from splashing up so
pilot and passenger stay dryer.

Figure 3-37. Solid flexible main landing gear that is streamlined.

As discussed in the nosewheel section, the carriage can have

main landing gear brakes on both main landing gear wheels
that can be drum or disk and controlled by mechanical or
hydraulic actuation. Each manufacturer has different designs
and options.
Tires can also assist as shock absorbers for landings. Large
tundra tires add signicant shock absorbing capability and
are used for operations on soft elds, rough elds, and sand.
[Figure 3-38] Generally, the faster WSC aircraft used for
airport operations have narrower tires to eliminate drag.

Landing Gear for Water and Snow

Besides landing gear for land, there are landing gear systems
for water (Weight-Shift Control Sea) and snow (ski-

3-14

Figure 3-39. Flying boat.

The pontoon system is used for calmer water, has less drag
while ying, and therefore can accommodate faster, smaller
wings. [Figure 3-40] Both the ying boat and the pontoon
system need more horsepower than land operations for two
reasons: rst, to provide enough thrust to accelerate to takeoff
speed with the extra drag of the boat or pontoons on the water,

Spare fuses of the proper amperage should be carried in the

WSC aircraft to replace defective or blown fuses. Circuit
breakers have the same function as a fuse but can be manually
reset, rather than replaced, if an overload condition occurs in
the electrical system. Placards at the fuse or circuit breaker
panel identify the circuit by name and show the amperage
limit.
An ammeter may be used to monitor the performance of
the electrical system. The ammeter shows if the magneto/
generator is producing an adequate supply of electrical power.
It also indicates whether or not the battery is receiving an
electrical charge. A voltage meter also provides electrical
information about battery voltage, an additional status of
the electrical system.
Figure 3-40. Pontoon system.

and second, to provide enough extra thrust to overcome the

additional drag of the boat or pontoons in the air for ight.
Electrical Systems
WSC aircraft are typically equipped with a 12-volt direct
current (DC) electrical system. A basic WSC aircraft
electrical system consists of a magneto/generator, voltage
regulator, battery, master/battery switch, and associated
electrical wiring. Electrical energy stored in a battery provides
a source of electrical power for starting the engine and other
electrical loads for the WSC aircraft.
The electrical system is typically turned on or off with a
master switch. Turning the master switch to the on position
provides electrical energy from the battery to all the electrical
equipment circuits with the exception of the ignition system.
Equipment that commonly uses the electrical system energy
includes:

Position lights

Anticollision lights

Instrument lights

Radio equipment

Navigation equipment

Electronic instrumentation

Electric fuel pump

Starting motor

Electric heating systems (gloves, socks, pants, vests,

jackets, etc.)

Ballistic Parachute
An additional safety system available is a ballistic parachute
system. In the case of a structural failure because of a mid-air
collision or an engine out over hostile terrain such as a forest,
the ballistic parachute provides an added safety system. The
parachute is sized so that when used, the complete aircraft
comes down under canopy. Details of ballistic parachute
system use are covered in more detail in Chapter 13,
Abnormal and Emergency Operations.
When the system is activated, a rocket shoots out, pulling the
parachute system to full line stretch, and forcing the parachute
out and away from the carriage and wing.
The preferred point of attachment for the parachute is on top
of the wing at the hang point. This allows the WSC aircraft
to descend level and land on the wheels, helping to absorb
the shock. This requires routing from the chute to the top of
the wing with O rings to be able to remove this routing to
easily take the wing off the carriage. Alternate attach points
where there is no routing to the top of the wing are the mast
and engine attachment points; however, this has the WSC
aircraft descending nose down when activated.
The ballistic parachute canister can be mounted in a number
of locations on the WSC, typically on the carriage pointed
sideways to avoid entanglement with the propeller. The
actuation handle is mounted in the ight deck for pilot use
when needed. [Figures 3-41 and 3-42]

Fuses or circuit breakers are used in the electrical system to

protect the circuits and equipment from electrical overload.

3-15

Canister
Rocket
Ballistic Parachute System
Figure 3-43. Cruise throttle control and ignition switches.
Figure 3-41. Located under the pilots legs, the canister will blow
through the break-away panel in the cowling.

for a passenger or instructor to use if seated in the back seat.

[Figure 3-7]
Ignition switches are sometimes included in the cruise
control throttle housing or as a separate set of switches. If
a WSC is used for instruction, the ignition switches should
be within reach of the instructor sitting in the back seat.
[Figures 3-43]

Figure 3-42. Canister mounted under engine.

Flight Deck
The ight deck is where the pilot and passenger sit. It is
typically a tandem seating with the pilot in front and the
passenger in back. When the WSC aircraft is used for
instruction, the instructor typically sits in back and must have
access to the ight controls.
The pilot in the front has ground and ight controls. The
right foot controls a foot throttle and the left foot controls
the brake. This is similar to throttle and brake controls on an
automobile. The feet also control ground steering by moving
the front fork with the foot pedals. A foot throttle and foot
brake can be added to optional ground steering control for
use by an instructor sitting in back.
A hand cruise throttle is typically used when the pilot can
set it and it stays set. This cruise throttle is usually in a
position where the instructor in the back seat can also operate
it. [Figures 3-43]
The wing ight control bar is in a position at chest height for
the pilot in the front seat. Additional extensions are added
3-16

The ballistic parachute handle must be accessible for use

when needed but not put in a position where it could be
accidentally deployed. Some WSC aircraft have two handles,
one for the front and one for the back. Additional controls
for starting, such as the choke or enricher, must be accessible
to the pilot.
Dashboards and Instrument Panels
The instrument panel is in front of the pilot and provides
engine, ight, navigation, and communications information.
The pilot is responsible for maintaining collision avoidance
with a proper and continuous visual scan around the aircraft,
as well as monitoring the information available from the
instrument panel. The pilot must process the outside cues
along with the instrumentation throughout the ight for a
sound decision-making process.
The ignition switches, which may be located on the
instrument panel or within the instructors reach for WSC
used for instruction, has two positions: ON, which allows
power to make contact with the spark plugs, or OFF, which is
a closed switch to GROUND and removes the power source
from the spark plugs. Typically, WSC engines have two
spark plugs per cylinder, two switches, and two completely
separate ignition systems. Some single-place WSCs with
smaller engines have only one spark plug per cylinder, one
ignition switch, and a single ignition system.

For example, for a two-stroke liquid-cooled engine, the

manufacturer may require instrumentation to monitor engine
exhaust gas temperatures (EGT), water temperatures, and
revolutions per minute (rpm). Additionally, for a fourstroke engine, the manufacturer may additionally require oil
temperature and pressure gauges. For a simple two-stroke aircooled engine, the manufacturers requirement may be EGT,
cylinder head temperature (CHT) and rpm instrumentation.
Generally, most electrical or engine controls are located on
the dashboard unless required to be reached by the instructor
for ight instruction.

by the manufacturer with a portable GPS added in the

middle. Electrical components are neatly arranged along the
top. Large analog airspeed (left) and altitude (right) ight
instruments are installed in the middle with the portable
GPS installed between the two. The bottom stack consists
of the basic engine instruments for a simple two-stroke aircooled engine: RPM for power (top), CHT (middle) and
EGT (bottom).

Dashboards are as varied as the manufacturers and the

purpose of the aircraft, from simple to complex. Classical
analog gauges are common, but digital instruments are
becoming more popular with light-sport aircraft (LSA).
Overall, no instrumentation is required for E-LSA, but for
S-LSA an airspeed indicator is usually required, and engine
manufacturers require certain instruments be installed on the
aircraft to monitor the performance of the particular engine.

Flight Instruments
The specic theory of operation and details of instruments is
covered in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge,
and is a prerequisite to this section on ight instruments. The
altimeter is the most important ight instrument and should
be on every WSC aircraft. It is used to maintain the proper
altitude at airports, during cruise, and provides other aircraft
position information for the safety of all.

Accessories Plug
Starter

The vertical speed indicator (VSI) is one tool to assist the pilot
with the performance of the aircraft. The airspeed indicator
(ASI) is used to optimize performance of the aircraft, compare
predicted to actual performance, and to operate within the
limitations of the aircraft.

Engine
Hours

Airspeed

Master

Altitude
GPS

Navigation Instruments
A global positioning system (GPS) is typically used as a
navigation and ight aid for most WSC aircraft. A magnetic
compass is commonly used as a primary navigation system
or as a backup when a GPS system is used.

RPM

CHT

Engine Instruments
There is a variety of engine instruments that are used. The
most basic is the engine rpm, which determines the power
of the engine. Specic engine instruments are discussed in
the powerplant section.
Instrument Panel Arrangements
Instrument panels vary greatly from the basic to the complex.
Figure 3-44 depicts a standard instrument panel supplied

EGT

Figure 3-44. Basic analog flight and engine instruments.

A more advanced analog panel with a user radio and GPS

added is shown in Figure 3-45. Airspeed, vertical speed
indicator, and altitude large ight instruments are along

3-17

Airspeed

Strobe

RPM
Flight Radio
Timer

CHT

EGT

Magnetic
Compass

VSI
Altitude

Master
Phone
GPS
Strobe

Airspeed

VSI
Altitude

Master Elec
Volts

EGT

Oil Direction
Temp.
Volts

Fuel
Level

CHT

Oil Pressure
Radio
GPS

Figure 3-46. Instrument hybridanalog airspeed and compass

indicator with separate digital instruments.
Digital Panel for
Flight Instruments
Engine Instruments
GPS

Magnetic Compass

Transponder

Figure 3-45. Full analog instruments.

the top. A navigational gyro is in the middle of the panel.

The bottom row consists of four-stroke engine instruments,
electrical and remote fuel gauge. The user installed radio and
GPS complete a well equipped instrument panel. A hybrid
panel of analog, digital, and portable instruments is shown
in Figure 3-46.
The integrated digital panel does provide more options
in a smaller space. One panel can now have aircraft
performance screens, engine systems screens, navigation
screens, communications screens, attitude indicator, and any
combination of these. [Figure 3-47]

3-18

Radio Communications
System Electric
Switches
Figure 3-47. Digital instrument panel.

Main Electric Switch

Ignition

Communications
There are three types of communications systems used in
WSC aircraft:
1.

Communications between the pilot and passenger

while inside the aircraft.

2.

Aircraft radio communications with other aircraft and

control towers.

3.

Radar position indicator communications from the

WSC aircraft to control towers (transponder).

Easy and clear communications between the pilot and

passenger, or between the instructor and student inside
the ight deck is important for the safety and enjoyment
of both. Modern communications systems have advanced
noise canceling systems in headphones and microphones to
reduce engine noise and blast of air. Each system is unique,
and the quality of the sound and noise canceling capability
of the system varies. Some use voice-activated systems in
which headphones activate only when someone is speaking
into the microphone; others have a steady state in which
there is no additional control of the voice activation. Since
there is a large difference in systems available, it is best to
test systems to determine what is best for the WSC aircraft
being own. [Figure 3-48]
An aircraft radio is required for ying in any tower controlled
airspace. Using a radio is not required at airports without a
control tower but it is recommended for the safety of self,
passengers, pilots in the air, and people/property on the
ground. To broadcast to a tower or other aircraft, press a
Push To Talk (PTT) button. A complete ight deck radio and
accessory system schematic is shown in Figure 3-49.

Hea
dP

hone
s

1
OFF

H
Phoead
ne
2

H
Phoead
ne
1

Some systems require an intercom

box for headphones to plug into.

Figure 3-48. Basic pilot-to-passenger communication system.

A radar signal receiver/transmitter system is required at busy

commercial airports (Classes C and B) and at altitudes above
10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) (unless the aircraft was
certied without an electrical system to power the unit). This
is known as a Mode C transponder that sends a signal giving
the control tower an exact location and altitude of aircraft.
[Figure 3-47]
Powerplant System
The powerplant system is composed of the fuel system,
engine, gearbox, and propeller. Here we will point out the
basic components of these systems with their function and
details covered in Chapter 4, Powerplant System.

Head Phone 2
Passenger

Fuse

tery

Bat

Head phones disconnect

Head Phone 1Pilot
Optional Device
music or cell phone

Radio

P.T.T. 2 (optional)
used for
instructor
during training
P.T.T. 1Push To Talk

Figure 3-49. Flight deck and aircraft radio communications system example.

3-19

Fuel System Components

The WSC aircraft is equipped with fuel tanks usually ranging
in capacity from 5 to 20 gallons. As with any aircraft,
knowing how much fuel the tank holds is crucial to ight
operations. The LSA denition has no limitations on the size
of the fuel tank, unlike its ultralight vehicle predecessor.
Generally, the fuel tank is located close to the CG, so fuel
burn does not affect the balance of the carriage. Some fuel
tanks are clear for visual inspection of the amount of fuel
on board [Figure 3-50], while others have tanks that are not
visible and require fuel level probes for instrument panel
indication of fuel. [Figure 3-51]

A fuel shut-off valve may be installed and can be located

anywhere in the fuel line. Some designs have a fuel tank sump
drain valve to remove water and solid contaminants.

Engine and Gearbox

The typical WSC aircraft engine can be two or four stroke,
liquid or air cooled, and normally ranges from 50 to 100
horsepower. Some engines have electric starters and some
have pull starters. Most WSC aircraft engines have reduction
drives that, when attached, reduce the propeller rpm from
to the engine rpm. [Figure 3-52]

Engine Gearbox

Visible Fuel Level

Figure 3-52. Engine gearbox.

Fuel Tank

Figure 3-50. Fuel tank with visible fuel quantity.

Fuel fill

A signicant amount of the total aircraft empty weight

is determined by the powerplant (engine, gearbox, and
propeller) and mounting conguration. When trailering
the WSC aircraft over bumpy terrain or over long trips,
the bouncing of the carriage in the trailer can put extreme
stress on this mounting system. In addition, repeated hard
landings of the carriage can also stress the welds of the engine
mount. Consistent detailed inspections of the engine mount
should be an important part of every preight and postight
inspection.
The powerplant systems are as varied as the WSC aircraft
they power. Modern technology has allowed these systems
to become lighter, quieter, more efficient, and, most
importantly, dependable.

The Propeller
Figure 3-51. Fuel fill to fuel tank under passengers seat.

Fuel lines exit the fuel tank, and may incorporate a primer
bulb, fuel lters, fuel pump, and/or a primer system, all of
which must be integrated into the carriage. A fuel venting
system is also required, which can be a hole in the fuel ller
or lines running to vent at an appropriate location.
3-20

Propellers are power converters that change the engine

horsepower into thrust. Thrust is the force that propels the
aircraft through the air by pushing the WSC aircraft forward.
Aerodynamically speaking, a propeller is a rotating airfoil
and the same principles that apply to the wing applies to the
propeller, except the propeller provides a horizontal force
of thrust.

Figure 3-53. Four-blade propeller.

Propellers typically consist of two, three, or four blades.

[Figures 3-53 and 3-54] Propellers can be ground adjustable
or xed pitch. Variable pitch ight propellers are not allowed
on LSA. The pitch should be properly set for your WSC
aircraft to provide the recommended rpm of the engine at
full power. The POH should be consulted if there is any
question about the propeller rpm and adjusting or replacing
the propeller. Propellers are specically matched to the
engine power, gear reduction and speed range of the aircraft.
Therefore, not just any propeller may be put on any engine.
The POH requires specic propellers that are matched for
each aircraft.
As with an airplane propeller, the WSC aircraft propeller
turns at such high speeds that it becomes invisible when in
motion. The dangers of a turning propeller require every
pilot to maintain the highest level of safety and respect for
the consequences of body parts, pets, and debris coming

Figure 3-54. Three-blade propeller.

in contact with a rotating propeller. Debris on the takeoff/

landing eld is a danger to the propeller, as well as to the
people who may be in the prop-wash area behind or on the
side of the propeller. Stones, small pieces of metal, and
sticks can become dangerous projectiles if kicked into the
propeller during start-up, taxi, takeoff, and landing. Just as
with any airframe or wing component of a WSC aircraft, if the
propeller becomes damaged, nicked, or dinged, the aircrafts
performance can be greatly affected. Some pilots elect to use
tape or rock deector guards to protect the leading edge from
rock/debris damage. Regardless, taking proper care of the
propeller is as critical as proper engine and wing care.

3-21

Chapter Summary
Components and systems consist of two primary
subassemblies: wing and carriage. The main wing component
is the frame, which is composed of the leading edges, keel,
crossbar, and control frame. The typical wing frame has lower
wires and upper wires with a king post. The strutted version
has wing struts and no upper rigging. The frame is designed
so the outboard leading edges ex, and it also has a control
system that allows the keel to move side to side relative to the
leading edges for roll control. The sail is designed specically
for the frame with battens and leading edge stiffner provide
the rigid airfoil shape of the sail.
The carriage is separate from the wing. Different wings can be
put on the same carriage at separate times for different types
of ying (example: large wing is used for ying low and slow
where a small wing can be used for ying fast and long crosscountry missions). As discussed in Chapter 2, Aerodynamics,
each wing must be approved by the manufacturer to go on
a specic carriage.
Main carriage components are the mast, carriage keel, front
tube, and engine mount. This structure houses the ight deck,
powerplant, and landing gear. The carriage structure also
houses system components such as the electrical system,
ballistic parachute, and fuel tank. The ight deck is the heart
of the carriage providing pilot systems for communications,
navigation, engine/flight/navigation instruments, and
electrical controls.

3-22

Chapter 4

Powerplants
Introduction
This chapter covers the engines found on most weight-shift
control (WSC) aircraft and includes the exhaust, ignition,
lubrication, cooling, propeller, gearbox, induction, charging,
and fuel systems. Reciprocating engine operating theory is
covered for both two-stroke and four-stroke engines. The
WSC engine and propeller, often referred to as a powerplant,
work in combination to produce thrust. The powerplant
propels the aircraft and charges the electrical system that
supports WSC operation.

4-1

The powerplant system is composed of the engine, gearbox,

and propeller. It is a key component of a WSC aircraft and
should be maintained according to both the engine and
airframe manufacturer recommendations.
Preight information, along with maintenance schedules
and procedures, can be found in the pilots operating
handbook (POH) for Special Light-Sport Aircraft (S-LSA),
and/or maintenance references from the manufacturers.
Engine inspections and maintenance must be performed and
documented in a logbook. A pilot should review this logbook
before ying an unfamiliar aircraft.

Refer to the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

for a comprehensive review of how reciprocating four-stroke
engines operate.
Two-Stroke Engines
Two-stroke engines are commonly used in WSC aircraft. Twostroke aviation engines evolved from two-stroke snowmobile
and watercraft engines, the difference being that an aircraft
engine is optimized for reliability with dual ignition often
installed for each cylinder. Two-stroke engines are popular
because they have fewer components than four-stroke engines
which makes them less expensive to manufacture and lighter,
thus increasing the power-to-weight ratio.

Reciprocating Engines
WSC aircraft are designed with reciprocating engines.
[Figures 4-1 through 4-3] Two common means of classifying
reciprocating engines are the:
1.

Number of piston strokes needed to complete a

cycletwo or four.

2.

Method of coolingliquid or air.

Figure 4-1. Two-stroke air-cooled engine.

4-2

Two-stroke engines require that oil be mixed into the fuel

to lubricate the engine, instead of being held in a sump and
requiring a separate pressurized recirculating system like that
of a four-stroke engine. Details on two-stroke oil mixing are
covered in the lubrication section. One stroke as the piston
moves up is intake and compression, while the second stroke
as the piston moves down is power and exhaust. The two-

Figure 4-2. Two-stroke water-cooled engine.

Figure 4-3. Four-stroke water- and oil-cooled engine.

4-3

stroke engine performs the same functions as a four-stroke

engine in half the number of strokes.
A wide range of valve systems are found on two-stroke
engines for the purpose of opening and closing ports in
the cylinder to let fuel in and exhaust out at the proper
time. This is similar to the intake and exhaust valves on a
four-stroke engine. One-way pressure valves, called spring,
reed, or poppet valves, open when the pressure drops within
the crankcase, pulling the fuel from the carburetor into the
crankcase. [Figure 4-4]
Mechanical rotary valves are driven off the engine, rotate
to provide an opening at the precise time, and can be on the
intake and exhaust ports. [Figure 4-5]
Open port shown for air/fuel intake
Crank shaft operates/rotates rotary valve

Transfer port

Figure 4-5. Intake rotary valve for a two-stroke engine.

Fuel/Air/Oil Mixture
Reed valve open

Piston porting does not use any valves. The fuel inlet port is
opened and closed by the piston position as it moves up and
down in the cylinder. This is called a piston ported inlet and
is used in the two-stroke process description that follows.
Two-Stroke Process
The two-stroke process begins with the fuel entering the
engine and concludes as it exits as exhaust.

Low crankcase pressure opens reed valve

Transfer port
Exhaust port
Reed valve closed

Crankcase Vacuum Intake StrokePiston Moving

Up
The upward stroke of the piston [Figure 4-6A] creates a
vacuum in the crankcase and pulls the fuel/air/oil mixture
into the crankcase through the intake valve system from the
carburetor. [Figure 4-6B] This can be a pressure-actuated
reed valve, a rotary valve, or a ported inlet system where
the lower piston skirt provides an opening for the fuel/air/oil
mixture to ow in when the piston is reaching its highest
point of top dead center (TDC). At this point, the greatest
portion of the fuel/oil/air mixture has lled the crankcase.
[Figure 4-6B]

Crankcase Compression StrokePiston Moving

Down

High crankcase pressure closes reed valve

Figure 4-4. Reed valve is open with low pressure and closes when
the pressure increases in a two-stroke engine.

4-4

During the downward stroke, the pressure valve is forcibly

closed by the increased crankcase pressure, the mechanical
rotary valve closes, or the piston closes off the fuel/air oil
mixture intake port as shown. The fuel/oil/air mixture is then
compressed in the crankcase during the downward stroke of
the piston. [Figures 4-6B to 4-6D]

Piston Ported Two-Stroke Cycles

Piston moves up
Fuel/Oil/Air mixture
pressure

F Fuel/Oil/Air ignited

Piston moves down

G Piston forced down

Piston is at bottom
H

Fuel/Oil/Air intake port

Fuel/Air enters and

exhaust exits
Exhaust port

Tuned exhaust pressure wave

2
1

Lower crankcase chamber

Upper combustion chamber

Piston is at top

Piston

Crankcase
Crank
A

Transfer port

Connecting Rod

Vacuum created in
crankcase

Fuel/Oil/Air mixture
enters from carburetor

Fuel/Oil/Air mixture
pressurized

Pressurized Fuel/Oil/
Air mixture transferred

Figure 4-6. Piston ported inlet cycles for a two-stroke engine.

Crankcase Transfer/ExhaustPiston at Lowest

When the piston is near the bottom of its stroke, the transfer
port opening from the crankcase to the combustion chamber
is exposed, and the high pressure fuel/air mixture in the
crankcase transfers around the piston into the main cylinder.
This fresh fuel/oil/air mixture pushes out the exhaust (called
scavenging) as the piston is at its lowest point and the exhaust
port is open. Some of the fresh fuel/oil/air mixture can escape
through the exhaust port, resulting in the higher fuel use of
the two-stroke engine. [Figure 4-6D]

process is happening simultaneously, as described earlier.

This is why four processes can happen in two strokes.
[Figures 4-6B and 4-6C]

Cylinder Power StrokeInitial Piston Moving

Down
At the top of the stroke, the spark plug ignites the fuel/oil/air
mixture and drives the piston down as the power stroke of
the engine. [Figures 4-6F and 4-6G]

Cylinder Power StrokeFinal Piston Moving Down

Cylinder Start of Compression StrokePiston
Initially Moving Up
As the piston starts to move up, covering the transfer port,
the tuned exhaust bounces a pressure wave at the precise time
across the exhaust port to minimize the fuel/air/oil mixture
escaping through the exhaust port. [Figure 4-6E]

Cylinder Compression StrokePiston Moving Up

The piston then rises and compresses the fuel mixture in
the combustion chamber. [Figure 4-6E to 4-6F] During this
piston compression process, the crankcase vacuum intake

As the piston passes the exhaust port, the exhaust exits the
combustion chamber. As the piston continues down, the
transfer port opens and the swirling motion of the fuel/
oil/air mixture pushes the exhaust out of the exhaust port.
[Figures 4-6H]

Piston Reverses Direction From Down Stroke to Up

Stroke
As the piston reverses direction from the down stroke to the up
stroke, the process is complete. [Figures 4-6H and 4-6A]

4-5

Four-Stroke Engines
Four-stroke engines are very common in most aircraft
categories and are becoming more common in WSC
aircraft. [Figure 4-7] Four-stroke engines have a number
of advantages, including reliability, fuel economy, longer
engine life, and higher horsepower ranges.
Intake valve

Exhaust valve

are pushed out of the cylinder and through the exhaust pipe
system to the atmosphere.
Some exhaust systems have an exhaust gas temperature
probe. This probe transmits an electric signal to an instrument
in front of the pilot. This instrument reads the signal and
provides the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of the gases at
the exhaust manifold. This temperature varies with power and
with the mixture (ratio of fuel to air entering the cylinders),
and is used to make sure the fuel/air mixture is within
specications. When there is a problem with carburetion,
the EGT gauge will normally be the rst notication for a
pilot. [Figure 4-8]

Spark plug
Piston

EGT Probes
Crankshaft

Connecting rod

1. Intake

Tuned Exhaust System

2. Compression

Exhaust Silencer

Figure 4-8. Two-stroke tuned exhaust system with EGT probes

installed where the exhaust enters the exhaust system.

3. Power

4. Exhaust

Figure 4-7. The cycles in a four-stroke engine.

These advantages are countered by a higher acquisition cost,

lower power-to-weight ratios, and a higher overall weight.
The increased weight and cost are the result of additional
components (e.g., camshaft, valves, complex head to house
the valve train) incorporated in a four-stoke engine.

Exhaust Systems
Engine exhaust systems vent the burned combustion gases
overboard, reduce engine noise, and (in the case of twostroke engines) help keep the fresh fuel/oil/air mixture in the
cylinders. An exhaust system has exhaust piping attached
to the cylinders, as well as a mufer. The exhaust gases

4-6

Two-Stroke Tuned Exhaust Systems

In two-stroke engines, the exhaust system increases the fuel
economy and power of the engine. The two-stroke exhaust
system is an integral part of any two-stroke engine design,
often controlling peak power output, the torque curve, and
even the revolutions per minute (RPM) limit of the engine.
The exhaust system must be tuned to produce a back pressure
wave at the exhaust port to act as an exhaust valve as shown
in Figure 4-6E. When hot spent gases are vented out of the
exhaust port, they are moving fast enough to set up a high
pressure wave. The momentum of that wave down the exhaust
pipe diffuser lowers the pressure behind it. That low pressure
is used to help suck out all of the residual, hot, burnt gas
from the power stroke and at the same time help pull a fresh
fuel/air charge into the cylinder. This is called scavenging
and is an important function of a tuned two-stroke exhaust
system. [Figure 4-6H]

The design of the exhaust converging section causes a

returning pressure wave to push the fresh fuel/air charge
back into the exhaust port before the cylinder closes off that
port. Called pulse charging, it is another important function
of the exhaust system. [Figure 4-6E]
Tuned exhaust systems are typically tuned to a particular
rpm range. The more a certain rpm range is emphasized, the
less effective the engine will operate at other rpm. Vehicles
like motorcycles take advantage of this with the use of
transmissions. Motorcycle exhaust pipe builders can optimize
a certain rpm range and then the driver shifts gears to stay in
that range. Aircraft, with no transmission, do not have this
ability. On an aircraft, an exhaust pipe has to be designed to
operate over a broad range of rpm from idle to full speed, a
reason that simply putting a snowmobile engine on a WSC
does not work well.
Overall, the two-stroke exhaust system for a WSC aircraft is a
specic design and must be matched to the engine to operate
properly and obtain the rated power. It also reduces noise
and directs the exhaust to an appropriate location. Exhaust
silencers can be added to reduce noise, but additional weight,
cost, and slight power reduction are the byproducts.
Four-Stroke Engine Exhaust Systems
Four-stroke engines are not as sensitive as two-stroke engines
because they have exhaust valves and, therefore, do not
need the precision pulse tuned exhaust system. However,
directing the exhaust out appropriately and reducing
the noise are important considerations. Again, using the
manufacturers recommended congurations is required
for S-LSA and recommended for Experimental Light-Sport
Aircraft (E-LSA).

Engine Warming
Two-Stroke Engine Warming
Two-stroke engines must be warmed because different metals
expand at different rates as they are heated. When heating
steel and aluminum, the aluminum parts expand faster than
the steel parts. This becomes a problem in two different
areas of many two-stroke engines. The rst place is in the
cylinders of the engine.
The cylinders have steel walls that expand slowly, compared
to aluminum pistons that expand quickly. If an engine is
revved too quickly during takeoff before warming up, a lot of
heat is generated on top of the piston. This quickly expands
the piston, which can then seize in the cylinder. A piston
seizure will stop the engine abruptly.
The second area of concern is lower in the engine around
the crankshaft. This is an area where parts may get too loose

with heat, rather than seizing up. Additionally, the crankcase

has steel bearings set into the aluminum which need to
expand together or the bearings could slip. Many two-stroke
engines have steel bearings that normally hug the walls of
the aluminum engine case. The crank spins within the donuts
of those steel bearings.
If the engine heats too quickly, the aluminum case outexpands those steel bearings and the crank causes the bearings
to start spinning along with it. If those steel bearings start
spinning, it can ruin the soft aluminum walls of the case,
which is very expensive. If heat is slowly added to an engine,
all parts will expand more evenly. This is done through a
proper warm-up procedure. Many two-stroke engines are
best warmed up by running the engine at a set rpm for a set
amount of time. Follow the instructions in the POH; however,
a good rule of thumb is to start the engine initially at idle
rpm, get it operating smoothly at 2,500 rpm for 2 minutes
for initial warm up, and then warm the engine at 3,000 rpm
for 5 minutes. The cylinder head temperature or coolant
temperature must be up to the manufacturers recommended
temperatures before takeoff. This may require running the
engine at higher rpm to reach required temperatures on some
engines.
Once the engine is warmed up and the aircraft is ying, it is
still possible to cool down the engine too much. This happens
when the engine is idled back for an extended period of time.
Even though the engine is running, it is not generating as
much heat as the cooling system is efciently dumping engine
heat into the atmosphere. An immediate power application
with a cooled engine can seize the engine just as if the engine
had not been warmed in the rst place.
In water-cooled engines, on a long descent at idle, the
coolant cools until the thermostat closes and the engine is not
circulating the radiator uid through the engine. The engine
temperature remains at this thermostat closed temperature
while the radiator coolant continues to cool further. If full
throttle is applied, the thermostat can open, allowing a blast
of coolant into the warm engine. The piston is expanding due
to the added heat, and the cylinder is cooling with the cold
radiator water, resulting in piston seizure. To prevent this,
slowly add power well before getting close to the ground
where power is needed. This gives the system a chance to open
the thermostat gradually and warm up the radiator water.
Just as it takes time for the engine crankcase and bearings
to warm up, it also takes those steel parts a long time to cool
down. If a pilot lands, refuels, and wants to take off again
quickly, there is no need to warm up again for 5 minutes.
The lower end of the engine stays warmed up after being
shut down for short periods.

4-7

Any engine restart is an example in which it would be

appropriate to warm the engine up until the gauges reach
operating temperatures. The lower end of the engine is warm
and now a pilot needs to be concerned only with preventing
the pistons from seizing.

the propeller spinning. When the engine is brought back

to idle, the clutch disengages and allows the engine to idle
smoothly again; the propeller stops when on the ground and
windmills when ying.

Propeller
Four-Stroke Engine Warming
A four-stroke engine must also be warmed up. The fourstroke engine has a pressurized oil system that provides
more uniform engine temperatures to all of its components.
Takeoff power can be applied as soon as the water, cylinder
head temperature (CHT), oil temperatures, and oil pressure
are within the manufacturers recommended tolerances for
takeoff power applications.

The propeller provides the necessary thrust to push the WSC

aircraft through the air. The engine power is used to rotate the
propeller, which generates thrust very similar to the manner
in which a wing produces lift. The amount of thrust produced
depends on the airfoil shape, the propeller blade angle of
attack (AOA), and the engine rpm. [Figure 4-9] Light-sport
aircraft (LSA) are equipped with either a xed-pitch or a
ground adjustable-pitch propeller.

Gearboxes
Gearboxes are used on most WSC reciprocating engines to
take the rotational output of an internal combustion engine
which is turning at a high rpm and convert it to a slower (and
more useful) rpm to turn the propeller. Gearboxes come in
different gear ratios depending on the output speed of the
engine and the needed propeller turning speeds.
Some examples are a two-stroke rpm reduction from 6,500
engine rpm with a 3.47 to 1 reduction, resulting in 1,873
propeller rpm. A four-stroke rpm reduction could be from
5,500 engine rpm with a 2.43 to 1 reduction, resulting in
2,263 propeller rpm. A gearbox is a simple device that bolts
directly to the engine and, in turn, has the propeller bolted
directly to it.
A two-cycle engine gearbox is kept lubricated with its own
built-in reservoir of heavy gearbox oil. The reservoir is
actually part of the gearbox case itself. The gearbox oil has
to be changed periodically since the meshing of the gears
will cause them to wear and will deposit steel lings into
the oil. If the oil is not changed, the abrasive lings cause
even more wear.
Some gearboxes have a built-in electric starter motor. When
activated, the motor turns the gearing which cranks the
engine.
Four-stroke propeller reduction gearboxes use oil from the
engine oil system for lubrication.

5
6

8
rpm
x1000

ENGINE RPM

ENGINE HOURS
Shown when engine is shut off

6500MAX CON 6800MAX

Figure 4-9. Engine rpm is indicated on the analog gauge (top) and

the digital gauge (bottom).

Some gearboxes come with a built-in centrifugal clutch

and others have allowances for installation. A centrifugal
clutch is very useful in a two-stroke engine because it allows
the engine to idle at a lower speed without the load of the
propeller. Otherwise, two-stroke engines can generate a great
deal of vibration at low rpm when loaded. As the engine
speeds up, the centrifugal clutch engages and smoothly starts
4-8

Fixed-Pitch Propeller
The pitch of the fixed-pitch propeller is set by the
manufacturer and cannot be changed. Refer to the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for basic propeller
principles.

100%
Power

Main Jet

Ground Adjustable-Pitch Propeller

Adjustable-pitch propellers for WSC aircraft can be adjusted
only on the ground with hand tools. If an engine is overrevving, more pitch can be added to the propeller. If the
engine is not developing the full recommended rpm during
ight, then some pitch can be taken out of the blades. This
should be done according to the WSC aircrafts POH and by
a qualied technician.

Full
Ne

Induction Systems

The carburetor system is most common. It mixes the

fuel and air in the carburetor before this mixture enters
the engine intake.

2.

The fuel injection system injects the fuel into the air
just before entry into each cylinder.

Carburetor Systems
WSC aircraft use oat-type carburetors. The oat-type
carburetor acquires its name from a oat that rests on fuel
within the carburetor oat chamber, commonly known as
the fuel bowls. The oat maintains the fuel level in the
fuel bowls. As fuel is used by the engine, the fuel and oat
levels drop, opening the valve letting more fuel into the
fuel bowls until the proper level of fuel in the fuel bowls
is achieved and the valve is closed. Reference the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for basic information
on oat carburetor operation. Modern two- and four-stroke
carburetors operate with three separate jetting systems
depending on engine power. [Figure 4-10]
When the throttle is closed for engine idling, the throttle
valve is closed and the fuel/air mixture is supplied through
the idle (pilot) jet and idle (pilot) air passage. The fuel/air
mixture is supplied to the cylinders through the bypass hole.
[Figure 4-11]
As the throttle is advanced and the throttle valve is raised,
the fuel is sucked up through the main jet but is controlled
by the opening and taper of the jet needle and needle jet.
This is effective throughout most of the midrange operation.
About half throttle, the main jet size starts to inuence the
amount of fuel mixed with the air and this effect continues
until it is the main inuence at the highest throttle settings.
[Figures 4-10 and 4-12]

50%
Idle Jet

1.

edle Jet

The induction system brings air in from the atmosphere,

mixes it with fuel, and delivers the fuel/air mixture (fuel/oil/
air mixture for two stroke engines) to the engine intake and
to the cylinders where combustion occurs. Outside air enters
the induction system through an air lter on the engine. The
air lter inhibits the entry of dust and other foreign objects.
Two types of induction systems are used in WSC engines:

Idle

Figure 4-10. Throttle position and jetting system used.

Throttle Valve

Pilot Hole

Idle Air
Bypass Hole

Air Bleed Holes

Pilot (or idle) Jet

Pilot Air Screw Adjustment

Figure 4-11. Pilot or idle jet system.

4-9

Throttle Slide
Cutaway

Jet Needle

Air Inlet

Main Jet

Needle Jet

This condition may occur at high elevation airports and

during climbs or cruise ight at high altitudes. To maintain
the correct fuel/oil/air mixture, the main jets are usually
changed for smaller jets based on the density altitude of
the base airport. Operating from low altitude airports and
climbing to altitude where the mixture becomes rich for short
periods is acceptable.
Operating an aircraft at a lower altitude airport with the jets
set for higher altitudes will create too lean of a mixture, heat
up the engine, and cause the engine to seize. The pilot must
be aware of the jetting for the machine to adjust the mixture.
Consult your POH for specic procedures for setting jets at
different density altitudes.
Four-Stroke Mixture Settings
Four-stroke engines typically have automatic mixture control
for higher altitudes or a mixture control that can be operated
by the pilot.

Figure 4-12. Jet needle/needle jet and main jet system.

Two-Stroke Carburetor Jetting for Proper Mixture

Carburetors are normally set at sea level pressure with
the jets and settings determined by the manufacturer.
[Figure 4-13] However, as altitude increases, the density
of air entering the carburetor decreases, while the density of
the fuel remains the same. This creates a progressively richer
mixture, same fuel but less air, which can result in engine
roughness and an appreciable loss of power. The roughness
is usually due to spark plug fouling from excessive carbon
buildup on the plugs. Carbon buildup occurs because the
excessively rich mixture lowers the temperature inside the
cylinder, inhibiting complete combustion of the fuel.

Figure 4-13. Typical two-stroke carburetor.

4-10

Carburetor Icing
One disadvantage of the carburetor system versus the fuel
injected system is its icing tendency. Carburetor ice occurs
due to the effect of fuel vaporization and the decrease in air
pressure in the venturi, which causes a sharp temperature
drop in the carburetor. If water vapor in the air condenses
when the carburetor temperature is at or below freezing, ice
may form on internal surfaces of the carburetor, including
the throttle valve.
Ice generally forms in the vicinity of the venturi throat. This
restricts the ow of the fuel/air mixture (fuel/oil/air mixture
for two stroke) and reduces power. If enough ice builds up,
the engine may cease to operate. Carburetor ice is most likely
to occur when temperatures are below 70 F (21 C) and
the relative humidity is above 80 percent. However, due to
the sudden cooling that takes place in the carburetor, icing
can occur even with temperatures as high as 100 F (38 C)
and humidity as low as 50 percent. This temperature drop
can be as much as 60 to 70 F. Therefore, at an outside air
temperature of 100 F, a temperature drop of 70 F results in
an air temperature in the carburetor of 30 F. [Figure 4-14]
The rst indication of carburetor icing is a decrease in engine
rpm, which may be followed by engine roughness. Although
carburetor ice can occur during any phase of ight, it is
particularly dangerous when using reduced power during a
descent. Under certain conditions, carburetor ice could build
unnoticed until trying to add power. To combat the effects of
carburetor ice, some engines have a carburetor heat option.
Some of the newer four-stroke engines have carburetor heat
turned on all the time to combat icing. Two-stroke engines
are typically less susceptible to icing but specic installations

The engine-driven fuel pump provides fuel under pressure

from the fuel tank to the fuel/air control unit. This control
unit, which essentially replaces the carburetor, meters the fuel
and sends it to the fuel manifold valve at a rate controlled
by the throttle. After reaching the fuel manifold valve, the
fuel is distributed to the individual fuel discharge nozzles.
The discharge nozzles, which are located in each cylinder
head, inject the fuel/air mixture at the precise time for each
cylinder directly into each cylinder intake port.

100%

Relative humidity

90%

High carburetor
icing potential

80%

70%

Carburetor icing possible

60%

50%
20 F/7 C

32 F/0 C

70 F/21 C

100 F/38 C

Outside air temperature

Figure 4-14. Although carburetor ice is most likely to form when

temperature and humidity are in ranges indicated by this chart,

carburetor ice is also possible under conditions not depicted.

dictate how susceptible the carburetor is to icing. Consult

the aircraft POH for the probability of carburetor ice for the
specic installation and for carburetor ice procedures.

Some of the advantages of fuel injection are:

No carburetor icing.

Better fuel ow.

Faster throttle response.

Precise control of mixture.

Better fuel distribution.

Easier cold weather starts.

Disadvantages include:

Fuel Injection Induction Systems

In a fuel injection system, the fuel is injected either directly
into the cylinders or just ahead of the intake valve. A fuel
injection system usually incorporates these basic components:
engine-driven fuel pump, fuel/air control unit, fuel manifold
(fuel distributor), discharge nozzles, auxiliary fuel pump, and
fuel pressure/ow indicators. [Figure 4-15]

Difculty in starting a hot engine.

Vapor locks during ground operations on hot days.

Problems associated with restarting an engine that

quits because of fuel starvation.

Throttle control

Fuel/air control unit

Electric fuel pump
Fuel lines to each cylinder

Fuel filter
Fuel manifold valve

Fuel
pressure
regulator

Fu
el t
an
k

Figure 4-15. Fuel injection system.

4-11

Ignition System
The typical ignition system on WSC aircraft provides the
spark that ignites the fuel/air mixture in the cylinders and
is made up of magneto/generators, control boxes, spark
plugs, high-voltage leads, and the ignition switch. For most
LSA engines designed specically for aircraft, a magneto/
generator uses a permanent magnet to generate an electric
current independent of the aircrafts electrical system, which
might include a battery. The aircraft electrical system can
failthe battery can go dead. However, this has no effect
on the ignition system.
The electricity from the ignition magneto/generator goes into
the ignition control box where the correct voltage is produced
and timed to re the spark plugs at the proper time. Modern
WSC aircraft use an electronic capacitance discharge system
that operates without any moving parts to increase reliability
and efciency. Capacitance Digital Systems (CDI) operate
similarly but they have the ability to change the timing of the
spark for different rpm. Consult the POH for the particular
system for each engine.
The system begins to re when the starter is engaged and the
crankshaft begins to turn. It continues to operate whenever
the crankshaft is rotating. Most WSC aircraft incorporate
a dual ignition system with two individual magneto/
generators, separate sets of wires, separate sets of control
boxes, and separate sets of spark plugs to increase reliability
of the ignition system. Each magneto/generator operates
independently to re one of the two spark plugs in each
cylinder. If one of the systems fails, the other is unaffected.
The engine will continue to operate normally, although a slight
decrease in engine power can be expected.
The operation of the magneto/generator output to the ignition
system is controlled in the ight deck by the ignition switch.
Since there are two individual ignition systems, there are
normally two separate ignition toggle switches or separate
positions on the ignition control, as shown in Figure 4-16.
Identication of a malfunctioning ignition system during
the pretakeoff check is observed by the decrease in rpm that
occurs when rst turning off one ignition switch, turning it
back on, and then turning off the other. A noticeable decrease
in engine rpm is normal during this check. If the engine
stops running when switching to one ignition system or if
the rpm drop exceeds the allowable limit, do not y until
the problem is corrected. The cause could be fouled plugs,
broken or shorted wires between the magneto/generator and
spark plugs, or improperly timed ring of the plugs because
of a defective control box. It should be noted that no drop
in rpm is not normal, and in that instance, the aircraft should
not be own. Following engine shutdown, keep the ignition
4-12

Figure 4-16. Keyed ignition system with integral starter.

switches in the OFF position. Even with the battery and

master switches OFF, the engine can re and turn over if
an ignition switch is left ON and the propeller is moved
because the magneto/generator requires no outside source
of electrical power. The potential for serious injury in this
situation is obvious.
Standard category aircraft engine systems are described in
the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; however,
these engines are not typically used on WSC. Automobile
engines or other non aircraft engines may be used on WSC
where the ignition system runs off the battery rather than a
magneto/generator system. In this case if the battery system
fails, the engine ignition system will fail and the engine will
stop.

Combustion
During normal combustion, the fuel/air mixture burns in
a very controlled and predictable manner. Although the
process occurs in a fraction of a second, the mixture actually
begins to burn at the point where it is ignited by the spark
plugs, then burns away from the plugs until it is consumed
completely. This type of combustion causes a smooth buildup
of temperature and pressure and ensures that the expanding
gases deliver the maximum force to the piston at exactly the
right time in the power stroke.
Detonation is an uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the
fuel/air mixture within the cylinders combustion chamber.
It causes excessive temperatures and pressures which, if not

corrected, can quickly lead to failure of the piston, cylinder,

or valves. In less severe cases, detonation causes engine
overheating, roughness, or loss of power.

injection systems. The fuel must be available to the engine

under all conditions of engine power, altitude, attitude, and
during all approved ight maneuvers. [Figure 4-17]

Detonation is characterized by high cylinder head temperatures

and is most likely to occur when operating at high power
settings. Some common operational causes of detonation
include:

Using a lower fuel grade than that specied by the

aircraft manufacturer or operating the engine after
it has been sitting for an extended period; after 3
weeks or as indicated by the POH, drain old fuel and
replenish with fresh fuel.

Operating the engine at high power settings with an

excessively lean mixture.

Extended ground operations.

Detonation may be avoided by following these basic

guidelines during the various phases of ground and ight
operations:

Make sure the proper grade of fuel is being used. Drain

and refuel if the fuel is old.

Develop a habit of monitoring the engine instruments

to verify proper operation according to procedures
established by the manufacturer.

Preignition occurs when the fuel/air mixture ignites prior

to the engines normal ignition event. Premature burning
is usually caused by a residual hot spot in the combustion
chamber, often created by a small carbon deposit on a spark
plug, a cracked spark plug insulator, or other damage in the
cylinder that causes a part to heat sufciently to ignite the
fuel/air charge. Preignition causes the engine to lose power
and produces high operating temperature. As with detonation,
preignition may also cause severe engine damage because
the expanding gases exert excessive pressure on the piston
while still on its compression stroke.

Throttle Control

Engine driven
fuel pump

Carburetor fuel bowl

Optional primer plunger

PRIM

ER

Optional primer bulb

used to pump fuel
into the carburetor
fuel bowls for starting
(an alternative electric
fuel pump can also
be used)
Fuel filter

Fuel fill with

integral vent

k
l tan
Fue
Fuel pickup with screen

Figure 4-17. Typical Carburetor Fuel System.

Detonation and preignition often occur simultaneously and

one may cause the other. Since either condition causes high
engine temperature accompanied by a decrease in engine
performance, it is often difcult to distinguish between the
two. Using the recommended grade of fuel and operating the
engine within its proper temperature and RPM ranges reduce
the chance of detonation or preignition.

Fuel Pumps
WSC aircraft with carburetors have engine-driven fuel pump
systems. A diaphragm pump is the primary pump in the fuel
system for two-stroke engines. Air pulses in the crankcase
actuate a diaphragm and provide fuel under pressure to the
carburetor. Four-stroke engines have a mechanical pump
driven directly off the engine.

Fuel Systems

Sometimes an electric auxiliary pump is provided for use in

engine starting and in the event the engine pump fails. The
auxiliary pump, also known as a boost pump, provides added
reliability to the fuel system. The electric auxiliary pump is
controlled by a switch in the ight deck.

The fuel system is designed to provide an uninterrupted ow

of clean fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. See Chapter
3, Components and Systems, for more information on fuel
tanks. See earlier section in this chapter for specics on fuel

4-13

Fuel Plunger Primer

The optional fuel plunger primer is used to draw fuel from
the tanks to supply it directly into the engine prior to starting.
This is particularly helpful during cold weather when engines
are hard to start because there is not enough heat available to
vaporize the fuel in the carburetor. For some aircraft, it is the
only way to deliver fuel to the engine when rst starting. After
the engine starts and is running, the fuel pump pushes fuel
to the carburetors and begins normal fuel delivery. To avoid
overpriming, read the priming instructions in the POH.

Carburetor Fuel Bowls

Fuel Pump

Choke
A choke or fuel enriching system is an alternate method to
provide additional fuel to the engine for initial cold starting.
Actuating the choke control allows more fuel to ow into
the carburetor.

FUEL F
LOW

Fuel Filter

Fuel Bulb Primer

The fuel bulb primer is manually actuated by squeezing the
bulb to draw fuel from the fuel tanks. This charges the fuel
lines and carburetor oat bowls before starting the engine
the rst time on a given day. After the engine starts, the fuel
pump is able to deliver the fuel to the fuel bowls. An electric
auxiliary fuel pump can also be used to charge the fuel lines
and carburetor fuel bowls before starting. This auxiliary fuel
pump is also used as a backup pump of the engine driven
fuel pump fails.
Fuel Gauges
The fuel quantity gauge indicates the amount of fuel measured
by a sensing unit in each fuel tank and is displayed in gallons.
Do not depend solely on the accuracy of the fuel quantity
gauge. Always visually check the fuel level in the tank
during the preight inspection, and then compare it with the
corresponding fuel quantity indication. It is also important
to track inight fuel consumption. Be sure to consult the
POH and know the approximate consumption rate to ensure
sufcient fuel for ight. If an auxiliary electric fuel pump is
installed in the fuel system, a fuel pressure gauge is sometimes
included. This gauge indicates the pressure in the fuel lines.
The normal operating pressure can be found in the POH.
Fuel Filter
After leaving the fuel tank, the fuel passes through a lter
before it enters the fuel pump or carburetor. This lter
removes sediments that might be in the fuel. [Figure 4-18]
Fuel
Aviation gasoline (AVGAS) is identied by an octane or
performance number (grade) which designates the antiknock
value or knock resistance of the fuel mixture in the engine

4-14

Figure 4-18. Fuel system showing fuel filter to fuel pump to

carburetor float bowls.

cylinder. The higher the grade of gasoline, the more pressure

the fuel can withstand without detonating. Lower grades of
fuel are used in lower compression engines because these
fuels ignite at a lower temperature. Higher grades are used
in higher compression engines, because they must ignite
at higher temperatures but not prematurely. If the proper
grade of fuel is not available, use the next higher grade as
a substitute. Never use a lower grade. This can cause the
cylinder head temperature to exceed its normal operating
range, which may result in detonation. Unfortunately,
AVGAS 100 Low Lead (LL) may not be recommended by
two-stroke engine manufacturers and may not be preferred by
the four-stroke manufactures. Even though the LL stands for
low lead, 100LL contains more lead than the old leaded gas
dispensed at automotive lling stations. The lead in the fuel
leaves deposits in the piston ring grooves, freezing the rings
in position and reducing engine performance. Spark plugs are
also very susceptible to lead fouling. This is especially true
in two-stroke engines that use cooler ignition temperatures
than standard aircraft engines.
AVGAS does have some advantages. It degrades slower
than auto gas, maintaining its efciency for a full 3 months.
AVGAS 100LL has no seasonal or regional variations and is
manufactured according to a standardized recipe worldwide.
If the airport has only 100LL available, it is permissible,
absent any limitations of the engine manufacturer, to mix
100LL and auto gasoline for use in two-stroke engines. A
5050 ratio will boost the octane rating and limit the amount
of lead available for fouling. Generally speaking, this is a

reasonable compromise when the proper auto gas octane is

not available.
Manufacturers of two-stroke engines and four-stroke engines
used on WSC aircraft typically recommend the use of 89
octane minimum auto fuel for their engines. Additives are
put into auto gas primarily to reduce harmful emissions rather
than boost performance. The additives are supposed to be
listed at the pump, but the accuracy of this posting should
be questioned.
Methanol alcohol has corrosive properties and can damage
engines. Engine manufacturers do not recommend more than
ve percent methanol in fuel. Consult the POH for specics
on an engine.
Ethanol alcohol is less corrosive than methanol. However, it
attracts water and is not as economical as gasoline. Ethanol
does not get very good fuel economy. Avoid fuels with any
more than 10 percent of ethanol.
Consult the POH for specics on an engine. Manufacturers
provide specic recommendations for the percentage of
alcohol in fuel. The posting on the pump may not be accurate
and alcohol content can vary greatly between fuel brands and
stations. Additionally, higher percentages of alcohol will be
added to auto gas in the future.
A simple test can be conducted to measure the fuels
alcohol content to ensure the fuel used stays within the
manufacturers recommendations. Use a general aviation
sump collector which includes graduation marks. Add water
to a specic mark. Then add fuel to ll the collector up to
the line for gas. Cover the top and shake it vigorously. After
it settles, the water and alcohol will combine and it will
look like there is now more water in the sump collector.
The difference between the initial amount of water rst put
into the collector and the new level of combined water and
alcohol equals the amount of alcohol in the fuel. Compare
this amount of alcohol and the amount of fuel to determine
the percentage of alcohol content in the fuel.
Methyl tertiarybutyl ether (MTBE) does not have the
corrosive or water attractive properties of the previously
mentioned additives and is added to fuel to improve air
quality. It has been banned in several states because it is
carcinogenic and has been found in ground water. It does not
attract water, but it is expensive, and found only in some of
the better grade fuels.

Fuel Contamination
Clean fuel is imperative for the safe operation of a WSC
aircraft. Of the accidents attributed to powerplant failure from
fuel contamination, most have been traced to:

Failure to remove contamination from the fuel system

during preight.

Servicing aircraft with improperly ltered fuel from

small tanks or drums.

Storing aircraft with partially lled fuel tanks.

Lack of proper maintenance.

Rust is common in metal fuel containers and is a common

fuel contaminant. Metal fuel tanks should be lled after each
ight, or at least after the last ight of the day to prevent
moisture condensation within the tank.
Another way to prevent fuel contamination is to avoid
refueling from cans and drums. Use a water ltering funnel
or a funnel with a chamois skin when refueling from cans or
drums. However, the use of a chamois will not always ensure
decontaminated fuel. Worn out chamois will not lter water;
neither will a new, clean chamois that is already water-wet or
damp. Most imitation chamois skins will not lter water.

Bad Gasoline
Letting fuel sit for weeks without using it will cause it to go
bad. Even if gas does not go bad, it will often lose octane
with time. For premixed gasoline and two-stroke oil, there
is another set of problems. Fuel and oil are normally mixed
at a 50:1 ratio. If premixed gas sits in a plastic container for
a while, the gas will evaporate leaving a richer oil mixture
in the container. In any case, fresh gas should be used when
possible.
Refueling Procedures
Never mix oil and fuel in an enclosed area. Not only are the
fumes irritating, but with the right fuel/air mixture can cause
an explosion. Do all oil and gas mixing outside. Refueling
from fuel cans should also be done outside. Never smoke
while refueling. Be careful when refueling an aircraft that has
just landed. There is danger of spilling fuel on a hot engine
component, particularly an exhaust system component.
Refueling should be done using only safety-approved fuel
containers marked with the type of fuel stored in them.
Confusing premixed fuel and fuel that has no oil in it can
be disastrous.

4-15

Metal Versus Plastic Fuel Containers

There are advantages to using both metal and plastic
containers. Metal cans will not allow the suns ultraviolet
rays in to harm the fuel. It also will not develop static charges
that a plastic container develops. However, a metal can is
more prone to sweating when going from cool to warm
temperatures on humid days. Metal cans and gas tanks are
best kept either empty or full of fuel to leave no room for
moist air.
Plastic fuel containers are easy to handle, inexpensive,
available at discount stores, and do not scratch the nish on
airframes. Plastic cans also do not sweat, and do not need to
be stored topped off. However, fuel does deteriorate a little
faster in plastic. Also, plastic containers can get charged
with static electricity while sliding around in the bed of a
pickup truck, especially if the truck has a plastic bed liner.
[Figure 4-19]

The passage of fuel through a chamois increases the charge

of static electricity and the danger of sparks.
The aircraft must be properly grounded and the nozzle,
chamois lter, and funnel bonded to the aircraft. If a can is
used, it should be connected to either the grounding post or
the funnel. Cell phones should not be used while refueling
due to possible re risks.
Mixing Two-Stroke Oil and Fuel
Two-stroke engines require special two-stroke oil to be mixed
into the fuel before entering the engine to provide lubrication.
In some engines, an oil injection pump is used to deliver the
exact amount of oil into the intake of the engine depending
on the throttle setting. An advantage of an oil injection
system is that pilots do not need to premix any oil into the
fuel. However, an important preight check is to ensure the
two-stroke oil reservoir is properly lled.
If a two-stroke engine does not have an oil injection system,
it is critical to mix the oil with the fuel before it is put into
the tank. Just pouring oil into the fuel tank does not allow
the oil to mix with the gas, and makes it difcult to measure
the proper amount of oil for mixing.
To mix two-stroke oil:

Figure 4-19. With these translucent containers, it can be noted that

Find a clean, approved container. Pour some gas into

it to help pre-dilute the two-stroke oil.

Pour in a known amount of two-stroke oil into the

container. Oil should be approved for air-cooled
engines at 50:1 mixing ratio (check the engine
manufacturer for proper fuel to oil ratio for the WSC
aircraft). Use a measuring cup if necessary. Shake the
oil-gas mixture to dilute the oil with gasoline.

Add gasoline until the 50:1 ratio is reached. If using a

water separating funnel, ensure the funnel is grounded
or at least in contact with the fuel container.

Put the cap on the fuel can and shake the gasoline and
oil mixture thoroughly.

the left hand container is just auto fuel and the right hand container
shows the auto fuel is premixed with oil for a two-stroke engine.

Many states now have laws prohibiting people from lling

plastic containers unless rst placed on the ground. Static
electricity can also be formed by the friction of air passing
over the surfaces of a WSC aircraft in ight and by the
ow of fuel through the hose and nozzle during refueling,
if fueling at a pump. Nylon, Dacron, and wool clothing are
especially prone to accumulate and discharge static electricity
from the person to the funnel or nozzle. To guard against the
possibility of static electricity igniting fuel fumes, a ground
wire should be attached to the aircraft before the fuel cap is
removed from the tank. The refueling nozzle should then
be grounded to the aircraft before refueling is begun and
should remain grounded throughout the refueling process.

4-16

Starting System
Most small aircraft use a direct-cranking electric starter
system. This system consists of a source of electricity, wiring,
switches, and solenoids to operate the starter and a starter
motor. The starter engages the aircraft ywheel or gearbox,
rotating the engine at a speed that allows the engine to start
and maintain operation.
Electrical power for starting is usually supplied by an on-board
battery. When the battery switch is turned ON, electricity is

supplied to the main power bus through the battery solenoid.

Both the starter and the starter switch draw current from the
main bus, but the starter will not operate until the starting
solenoid is energized by the starter switch being turned to the
start position. When the starter switch is released from the
start position, the solenoid removes power from the starter
motor. The starter motor is protected from being driven by
the engine through a clutch in the starter drive that allows
the engine to run faster than the starter motor.

Oil Systems
In a four-stroke engine, the engine oil system performs
several important functions, including:

Lubricating the engines moving parts.

Cooling the engine by reducing friction.

Removing heat from the cylinders.

Providing a seal between the cylinder walls and

pistons.

Carrying away contaminants.

Figure 4-20. Cylinder head temperature probe (yellow wire) is

under spark plug.

or air blockage in the cooling ns by a bird or insect nest.

[Figure 4-1]

Four-stroke engines use either a wet sump or dry sump

oil system. Refer to the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge for more information on four-stroke oil
systems.

Oil Cooler

Engine Cooling Systems

Water Cooler

The burning fuel within the cylinders produces intense heat,

most of which is expelled through the exhaust system. Much
of the remaining heat, however, must be removed, or at least
dissipated, to prevent the engine from overheating.
While the oil system in a four-stroke engine and the fuel-oil
mix in a two-stroke engine is vital to the internal cooling of
the engine, an additional method of cooling is necessary for
the engines external surface. WSC engines operate with
either air-cooled or liquid-cooled systems.
Many WSC aircraft are equipped with a cylinder head
temperature (CHT) gauge. This instrument indicates a direct
and immediate cylinder temperature change. This instrument
is calibrated in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Proper CHT
ranges can be found in the POH/AFM/AOI for that machine.
[Figure 4-20]
Air cooling is accomplished by air being pulled into the
engine shroud by a cooling fan. Bafes route this air over
ns attached to the engine cylinders where the air absorbs the
engine heat. Expulsion of the hot air takes place through one
or more openings in the shroud. If cylinder head temperatures
rise too much in an air-cooled engine, it is because of
lubrication problems, cooling fan drive belt damage or wear,

Figure 4-21. Cooling radiatorsoil cooler is on top and water

cooler is on bottom.

Liquid cooling systems pump coolant through jackets in

the cylinders and head. The heated liquid is then routed to
a radiator where the heat is radiated to the atmosphere. The
cooled liquid is then returned to the engine. If the radiator is
mounted close to the propeller, the propeller can constantly
move air across the radiator and keep the engine cool even
when the WSC is not moving. [Figure 4-21] Radiators
mounted away from the propeller make it more difcult for
the radiator to cool the engine unless the WSC is moving.
[Figure 4-22]
Breaking in an engine through ground runs on a hot day
is when radiator placement is most critical. Liquid-cooled
engines can overheat for a number of reasons, such as coolant

4-17

Chapter Summary
Powerplants are generally classied by:

Water Cooler Radiator

Figure 4-22. Side mounted water cooler radiators integral with

cowl.

not at proper levels, a leak, failed water pump, or a blockage

of the radiator.
Operating an engine above its maximum design temperature
can cause a loss of power and detonation. It will also lead
to serious permanent damage, such as scoring the cylinder
walls and damaging the pistons and rings. Monitor the engine
temperature instruments to avoid high operating temperature.
Operating the engine lower than its designed temperature
range can cause piston seizure and scarring on the cylinder
walls. This happens most often in liquid-cooled WSC aircraft
in cold weather where large radiators designed for summer
ying may need to be partially blocked off.

4-18

1.

Number of piston strokes needed to complete a

cycletwo strokes or four strokes.

2.

Method of coolingliquid or air.

Exhaust systems route the exhaust gases from the cylinders

out to the atmosphere. Two-stroke engines require tuned
exhaust systems matched to the specic engine for proper
operation.
Engines must be warmed up properly or engine damage
and seizure can result. Gearboxes reduce the engine rpm to
a usable propeller rpm. Induction systems mix gas and air
for cylinders and must be properly adjusted for different
altitudes.
Typical aircraft ignition systems are separate from the
electrical systems and typically have two separate ignition
systems. Aircraft ignition systems are composed of a
magneto/generator, control box, high voltage wires, spark
plugs, and ignition switches. Automotive engines typically
run the ignition system off the battery.
Proper combustion is a result of proper mixture and good
fuel. Good fuel management and proper engine cooling are
important considerations for reliable engine operation.

Chapter 5

Preight and
Ground Operations
Introduction
Preight preparations should include the overall evaluation
of the:

Pilot: experience, sleep, food and water, drugs or

medications, stress, illness

Aircraft: certicates/documents, airworthiness, fuel,

weight (does not exceed maximum), performance
requirements, equipment

EnVironment: weather conditions, density altitude,

forecast for departure and destination airelds, route
of ight, runway lengths

External pressures: schedules, available alternatives,

purpose of ight

Often remembered as PAVE, it is important to consider each

of these factors and establish personal minimums for ying.

5-1

Where To Fly
The weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft can be transported by
trailer from one ying eld to the next. For as many benets
as this provides, transporting the aircraft into unfamiliar
territory also includes some safety and operational issues.
Contact airport management to inquire about any special
arrangements to be made prior to arriving by trailer
[Figure 5-1] and there may be special considerations for
ying WSC aircraft with other aircraft. With smaller patterns
typically used by WSC aircraft, as covered in Chapter 10,
Airport Trafc Patterns, airport management may want a
pilot to operate over sparsely populated areas rather than
the normal airplane patterns over congested areas because
of the unique noise of the WSC aircraft. [Figure 5-2] Check
the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) all required airport
information per Title 14 of the Code of federal Regulations
(14 CFR) part 91 section 103, Preight information. Some
operation examples are trafc pattern information, noise
abatement procedures , no y zones surrounding the airport,
and special accommodations that may need to be arranged
for WSC aircraft..
Because of the wide range of flying characteristics of
the WSC aircraft, inform local pilots about some of the
incidentals of the specic WSC aircraft (e.g., ying low and
slow for certain congurations). The more non-WSC aircraft
pilots know about WSC ight characteristics and intentions,
the better they understand how to cooperate in ight. Sharing
the same airspace with various aircraft categories requires
pilots to know and understand the rules and understand the
ight characteristics and performance limitations of the
different aircraft.
For operations at nonaircraft elds, special considerations
must be evaluated. Permission is necessary to use private
property as an airstrip. Locate the area on an aeronautical
sectional chart to check for possible airspace violations or

Figure 5-2. Contact local airport management to determine best

operation for the aircraft and its type of operation.

unusual hazards that could arise by not knowing the terrain

or location. Avoid loitering around residential structures and
animal enclosures because of the slow ight characteristics
of WSC aircraft and distinct engine noise.
While selecting a takeoff position, make certain the approach
and takeoff paths are clear of other aircraft. Fences, power
lines, trees, buildings, and other obstacles should not be in the
immediate ightpath unless the pilot is certain he or she is able
to safely clear them during takeoff and landing operations.
Walk the entire length of the intended takeoff and landing area
prior to departure. [Figure 5-3] Look for holes, muddy spots,
rocks, dips in the terrain, high grass, and other objects that can
cause problems during takeoff and landing. Physically mark
areas of concern with paint, ags, or cones. Uneven ground,
mud, potholes, or items in elds such as rocks might not be
visible from the air. Plowed rows and vegetation are larger
than they appear from the air. Unfamiliar elds can make
suitable landing areas for emergencies, but should not be used

Figure 5-1. Contact the local airport management to find an acceptable location to stay at the airport.

5-2

Figure 5-3. Fields that look like good landing areas from the air

may actually be hazardous.

as intended landing areas. Extreme caution must be exercised

when operating from a new eld or area for the rst time.

Preight Actions
A pilot must become familiar with all available information
concerning the ight, including runway lengths at airport of
intended use, takeoff and landing distance accounting for
airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight,
wind, and temperature. For a cross-country ight not in the
vicinity of the takeoff/departure airport, information must
include weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements,
and alternatives available if the planned ight cannot be
completed.

Weather
Weather is a determining factor for all ight operations.
Before any ight is considered, pilots should obtain regional
and local information to rst determine if the predicted
weather for the planned ight is safe.
Regional Weather
Understanding the overall weather in the region being
own provides an overview of conditions and how they can
change during ight. Fronts, pressure systems, isobars, and
the jet stream determine the weather. There are a number of
information resources from which to nd the regional view
of weather systems, observed and predicted. Surface analysis
charts show these regional systems, which are common on
weather internet sites and TV broadcasts. [Figure 5-4] Review
the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for a
comprehensive understanding of weather theory, reports,
forecasts, and charts for weather concepts covered throughout
this weather section.
There are many sources for obtaining a weather brieng,
such as www.aviationweather.gov, www.nws.noaa.gov, 1-

Figure 5-4. Standard surface analysis showing fronts, pressure

systems, and isobars (top) and composite surface analysis which

adds radar and infrared satellite to show cloud cover (bottom).

800-WX-BRIEF, and a variety of internet sites that specialize

in local and regional weather.
Local Conditions
In gathering weather information for a ight, obtain current
and forecast conditions where ying, as well as alternate
airports in case landing at the intended destination is not
possible. These conditions should include wind (surface and
winds aloft), moisture, stability, and pressure.
Surface wind predictions and observations can be looked
at with a number of internet resources. The National
Weather Aviation service provides observations (METAR)
and forecasts (TAF) for areas with weather reporting
capabilities.
Winds aloft are forecast winds at higher altitudes than the
surface for locations throughout the United States. Refer
to the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for an
understanding of the winds and temperatures aloft tables.
Winds aloft, too, are important for flight planning and
safety.

5-3

A typical situation during morning hours is cold air from the

night settling, creating calm winds at the surface with the
winds aloft (300 to 3,000 feet) at 30 knots. As the surface
begins to warm from the sun, the cold surface air starts to
warm and rise, allowing the high winds from above to mix
and lower to the surface. The wind sheer area in between the
high winds above and calm winds below is usually turbulent
and can overwhelm aircraft or pilot capabilities. Therefore,
it is a dangerous practice to look only at the wind sock for
surface winds when there could be strong winds above. Winds
aloft must be evaluated for safe ight. [Figure 5-5]
During initial solo ights, the wind should be relatively calm
to y safely. As experience is gained, pilot wind limitations
can be increased. It is not until the pilot has had dual training
in crosswinds, bumpy conditions, and signicant pilot in
command (PIC) time soloing in mild conditions that pilot
wind conditions should approach the aircraft limitations. A
safe pilot understands aircraft and personal limitations.
Moisture in the air has a signicant effect on weather. If
the relative humidity is high, the chance of clouds forming
at lower altitudes is more likely. Clouds forming at lower
altitudes create visibility problems that can create Instrument

Meteorological Conditions (IMC) in which the visibility is

below that required for safe ight. The temperature-dew point
spread is the basis for determining at what altitude moisture
condenses and clouds form. It is important to be particularly
watchful for low visibilities when the air and dew point
temperatures are within a spread of three to four degrees.
The closer these temperatures are to each other, the greater
the chance for fog or clouds forming with reduced visibility
conditions. Consider a scenario where the destination airport
currently has a temperature-dew point spread of 4 F, and it
is evening when the atmosphere is cooling down. Since the
temperature-dew point convergence rate is 4.4 for every
thousand feet, the clouds/ceiling would be about 1,000
feet above ground level (AGL). Since it is cooling down,
the temperature-dew point spread is decreasing, lowering
the cloud level. Therefore, the 1,000 foot AGL ceiling is
lowering, creating IMC conditions that are not safe. For this
scenario, the ight should not be attempted.
Air temperature and humidity directly affect the performance
of the WSC wing and engine. The higher the temperature,
humidity, and actual altitude of the operating eld, the greater
role density altitude plays in determining how much runway
the WSC aircraft needs to get off the ground with the load

STRONG WINDS ABOVE

WARM AIR ABOVE

COLD AIR BELOW

Turbulence where
the strong winds mix
with the calm air

CALM BELOW

Figure 5-5. Typical morning inversion layercalm cold air is below; high winds are above.

5-4

on board, and how much climb performance is required once

airborne. The WSC aircraft may have cleared the obstacle
at 8 a.m. when the weather conditions were cooler with less
humidity; at 1 p.m. with increased air temperature and higher
humidity levels, the pilot must reevaluate the performance
of that same aircraft. A full understanding of density altitude
is necessary to be a safe WSC pilot; refer to the Pilots
Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for density altitude
and weight effects on performance.
The rate of temperature decrease with increased altitude
determines the stability of the air. The stability of the air
determines the vertical air currents that develop during the
day as the area is heated by the sun. These rising vertical
air currents are commonly known as thermals. Generally,
stable air has mild thermals and therefore less turbulence
than unstable air. Unstable air rises faster, creating greater
turbulence. Highly unstable air rises rapidly and, with enough
moisture, can build into thunderstorms.
Air stability is easily determined by the rate at which the
temperature drops with increased altitude. A standard
atmosphere is where the temperature drops 2 C for every
1,000 foot increase. If the temperature drops less than 2 C
per thousand feet, the air is more stable with less vertical wind
(thermals) developed during the day. If the temperature drops
more than 2 C per thousand feet, the air is more unstable
with more powerful vertical air currents developed during
the day, creating greater turbulence.
In addition to air stability, barometric pressure has a large
effect on weather. Low pressure in the area, below the
standard atmosphere of 29.92 "Hg, is generally rising air
with dynamic and unsettled weather. High pressure above
the standard atmosphere in the area is generally sinking air
resulting in good weather for ying.
Many airports have automated weather systems in which
pilots can call the automated weather sensor platforms that
collect weather data at airports and listen to this information
via radio and/or land line. Radio frequencies are on the
sectional chart and the A/FD has the telephone numbers
for these stations. The systems currently available are the
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), Automated
Weather Sensor System (AWSS), and Automated Weather
Observation System (AWOS).
Local conditions of wind, moisture, stability, and barometric
pressure are factors that should be researched before ight to
make a competent decision of go or no go to y. High winds
and moist unstable air with a low barometric pressure indicate
undesirable ying conditions. Light winds and dry stable air
with high pressure indicate favorable ying conditions.

Pilots should research and document these local conditions

before ight to predict the ying conditions and compare
the actual ying conditions to the predictions to learn and
develop knowledge from the information resources available
for ight.
In addition to weather, the National Airspace needs to be
checked to ensure there are no temporary ight restrictions
(TFR) for the locations planned to y. TFRs may be found
at www.tfr.faa.gov/. For a complete preight brieng of
weather and TFRs, call 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
Clouds visually tell what the air is doing, which provides
valuable information for any flight. To understand the
different cloud formations and the ground/air effects
produced, refer to weather theory in the Pilots Handbook of
Aeronautical Knowledge. [Figure 5-6] Cloud clearance and
visibility should be maintained for the operations intended
to be conducted. The chapter covering the National Airspace
System (NAS) provides cloud clearance requirements in
each class of airspace. A pilot should not y when ground
and ight visibility are below minimums for his or her pilot
certicate and the class of airspace where operating.
Knowledge of mechanical turbulence and how to determine
where it can occur is also important. The lee side of objects
can feel turbulence from the wind up to ten times the height
of the object. The stronger the wind is, the stronger the
turbulence is. [Figures 5-7 and 5-8]
In addition to adhering to the regulations and manufacturer
recommendations for weather conditions, it is important to
develop a set of personal minimums such as wind limitations,
time of day, and temperature-dew point spread. These
minimums will evolve as a pilot gains experience and are
also dependent on recency and currency in the make/model
of aircraft being own.

Weight and Loading

Weight and loading must be considered before each ight.
Do not exceed the maximum gross weight as specied in the
pilots operating handbook (POH). The balance of the pilot,
passenger, fuel, and baggage is usually not an issue, but must
be reviewed in the POH for the specic make/model since
some may have balance limitations. The fore and aft carriage
attachment to the wing hang point must be within the limits as
specied in the POH for weight and loading of the carriage.
Always follow the POH performance limitations.

5-5

Cirrus

High clouds

Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus

Cumulonimbus

Altostratus

Altocumulus

Middle clouds

20,000 AGL

Clouds with vertical development

Stratocumulus
Stratus

Nimbostratus

Low clouds

6,500 AGL

Cumulus

Figure 5-6. Cloud diagram.

WI N

Figure 5-7. Turbulence created by manmade items.

5-6

Figure 5-8. Turbulence created by natural land formations.

Transporting
It is best to keep the WSC aircraft in an enclosed hangar, but
trailers may be used to transport, store, and retrieve the WSC
carriage. If the trailer is large enough, the wing can also t
inside the trailer. If not, then it must t on top of a trailer,
truck, or recreational vehicle (RV). [Figure 5-9]

The wing must have ample padding and should have at least
three support points where it rests for transport. Transporting
the wing properly is of critical importance because the wing
resting on any hard surface can wear a hole in the sail and
cause structural damage to the tubing. The greatest wear and
tear on a wing can occur during transportation. Each support
point should have equal pressureno single point taking
most of the load. The wing should be tied down at each
attachment point to secure it, but not tight enough to damage
the wing. Wide straps are better than thin ropes because the
greater width creates less concentrated pressure on the wing
at each tie-down point.
Once the loading of the carriage and wing is complete
[Figure 5-9], take a short drive, stop, and check for rubbing
or chang of components.

Figure 5-9. Enclosed trailer containing carriage and wing on top

of RV.

Enclosed trailers are preferred so the carriage is protected

from the outside elements such as dust, rain, mud, road debris,
and the interested person who may want to tinker with the
carriage. The WSC carriage should t snuggly without being
forced, be guarded against chang, and well secured within
any trailer. It is best to utilize hard points on the carriage
frame and secure each wheel so the carriage cannot move
fore and aft during transport. This is best accomplished by
rst tying the front wheel from the axles, the fork, or a hard
point on the frame with a slight forward pull. Then, secure the
rear wheels from the axles or a hard point on the frame with
a slight rearward pull. Guides on the side of the wheels and
wheel chocks in front and back of each wheel are additionally
helpful to secure the carriage on any trailer.

Prior to taking the tow vehicle and trailer on the road, inspect
the tires for proper ination and adequate tread. Ensure
all lights are operable, the hitch is free moving and well
lubricated, the tow vehicle attachment is rated for the weight
of the trailer, and the vehicle and trailer brakes are operable.
Avoid towing with too much or too little tongue weight,
which causes the trailer to shtail at certain speeds, possibly
rendering it uncontrollable.
Be extremely cautious when unloading the wing and carriage.
This is best done with two people since the wing usually
weighs more than 100 pounds [Figure 5-10] and the carriage
usually must roll down some incline to get from the trailer
to the ground. Some carriages may be tail heavy without the
wing, and caution must be exercised, especially moving up and
down ramps. Check propeller clearance on the ground when
transitioning onto or off of a ramp and propeller clearance going
into and out of an enclosed trailer. If the carriage is transported
in an open trailer, it should be covered and the propeller secured
so it does not rotate/windmill during transport.

5-7

Figure 5-11. Wing positioned for setup.

Figure 5-10. Crane used for one person to lift 110-pound wing on
top of RV for transport.

Setting Up the WSC Aircraft

Find a suitable area to set up the wing, such as grass,
cement, or pavement out of the wind. Inside a large hangar
is preferable since wind gusts are not a problem. If setting
up outside, align the wing perpendicular to the wind.
Most wings set up with the same basic procedure shown
in Figures 5-11 through 5-33, but the POH should be
referenced for the specic WSC aircraft.
Rotate the wing bag so the zipper is facing up. [Figure 5-11] Unzip
the bag. When setting up the wing, pay close attention to
the specific pads, where they are located, and how they
are attached for each component of the wing. As shown in
Figure 5-12, the padding is made specifically for the control
frame between the downtubes and the control bar. If every
pad is not utilized when taking it down and transporting, there
will be wear on components with cosmetic and/or structural
damage to the wing. The POH may specify where pads go
during the setup and takedown. However, when setting up
any wing it is a good idea to take pictures, draw sketches, or
take notes regarding protective pad location so they can be
put back in the proper location during take down.
Assemble the triangular control frame without attaching the
wires to the nose. [Figure 5-13] Rotate the wing up onto its
5-8

Figure 5-12. Wing cover bag unzipped, showing unique padding

around control frame corner brackets.

Figure 5-13. Assembling control frame.

control frame. [Figure 5-14] Place the front wires near the
control bar so no one walks on them, remove, and roll up
the cover bag. [Figure 5-15] Release the wing tie straps that
are holding the leading edges together. [Figure 5-16] Spread
the wing slightly. Remove the pads from the wing keel and
kingpost. Note the protective pads still on the wing tips
protecting them from the ground during most of the wing
set up procedure. [Figure 5-17] Continually manage the
wing pads and wing tie straps by rolling the pads into the
cover bag so they do not blow away. [Figure 5-18] If the
kingpost is loose, insert it onto the keel to stand upright. If
the kingpost is attached, swing it upright. Topless wings
have no kingpost. Spread the wings as necessary to keep
the kingpost straight up, [Figure 5-19] spreading them out
carefully and evenly. Do not force anything. Ensure the wires
are not wrapped around anything. Separate the right and left
battens. Separate the straight battens (for a double surface
wing) and set them to the side. Lay out the battens, longest
to shortest from the root to the tip next to the pocket they

Figure 5-16. Removing the straps holding the two wings together.

Figure 5-17. Wings spread slightly to raise the kingpost.

Figure 5-14. Rotating the wing onto its control frame.

Figure 5-18. Pads and wing tie straps neatly rolled into wing cover

bag.

Figure 5-15. Placing the front wires at the control frame.

5-9

Figure 5-19. Raising the kingpost and spreading the wings as needed
to keep the kingpost upright.

go into on both sides. Note the protective pads are still on

the wing tips so they are protected. [Figure 5-20] Insert the
battens into the batten pockets, starting at the root and work
out to the tip. [Figure 5-21] Most batten attachments are
double pull. [Figure 5-22] Some manufacturers use cord or

Figure 5-22. Attaching double pull batten (inset). Batten secured

into batten pocket.

elastic, and others use a system that slips into the sail itself.
See the POH for wing details. Insert battens from the root
towards the tip about the way out on each side. Leave
the tip battens for later. Spread the wings as far as possible.
[Figure 5-23] Check to ensure all the wires are straight, not
wrapped around, and clear to tension the wing. Tension the
wing by pulling back on the crossbar tensioning cable and

Figure 5-20. Wings spread and battens organized to insert into

wings. Note small stepladder holding up keel.

Figure 5-23. Wing ready to tension.

Figure 5-21. Inserting batten into batten pocket.

5-10

pulling the crossbar back into position. This may require

signicant effort for some wings. Secure the tensioning
cable to the back of the keel. [Figure 5-24] If the keel does
not extend out, then support the aft end of the keel to lift the
tips off of the ground. [Figure 5-25] Move to the front and
secure the front control frame ying wires to the underside
nose attachment. [Figure 5-26] Remove the tip bag protectors
and install the tip battens, continuing to move from the root to
the tips on each side. Insert the washout strut into the leading
edge. Each manufacturer has its own washout strut systems
and tip battens. Some manufacturers have no washout struts.
Refer to the POH for wing specics. [Figure 5-27]

Figure 5-24. Attaching the tensioning cables to the back of the wing

to complete the wing tensioning step.

Figure 5-27. Installing the wing tip battens.

Figure 5-28. Installing the lower surface battens.

Figure 5-25. The wing tensioned.

middle. Move the undercarriage forward and attach the mast

to the proper hang point location on the wing keel. Consult
the POH for the proper hang point for desired trim, speed,
and loading at this time. Attach the backup cable at this time
also. [Figure 5-29]

Figure 5-26. Attaching the front flying wires to the nose

attachment.

Insert bottom battens for a double surface. If inside a hangar

where there is no wind, this can be done by putting the nose
down, making it easier to install the lower battens. [Figure 5-28]
If not already accomplished, lift up on the back of the keel
and put the wing on its nose. Lower the undercarriage mast
and line up the undercarriage behind the wing exactly in the

Figure 5-29. Attaching the mast to the wing after checking the POH

for the proper hang point location.

5-11

Lift up the nose and let the carriage roll backward until the
wing is level and the control bar is in front of the front wheel
of the carriage. Engage the parking brake and chock the back
of the carriage wheels. Ensure everything in the ight deck is
free and clear so the wing can be lifted freely into position.
[Figure 5-30] Lift the wing into position and lock the
carriage mast. This position is unique to each manufacturer
as some masts hinge above the ight deck. Refer to the POH
for details on a specic aircraft. [Figure 5-31] Install the
carriage front tube. Secure the control bar to the front tube
with a bungee. [Figure 5-32] Attach any fairing or seats as
required. [Figure 5-33]

Figure 5-32. Attaching the front tube.

Figure 5-30. Wing in position and carriage chocked to lift the

wing.

Figure 5-33. Installing the seats.

those in the assembly procedure except after the control bar

is assembled, the wing is rolled over so the control frame is
under the wing. The wing is assembled as if it were standing
on its control frame. After the wing is tensioned, the nose is
lifted, the control frame pulled forward, and the nose wire
secured. This is not a common practice, and the POH should
be reviewed for details on this method if it is allowed by the
manufacturer.
Figure 5-31. Lifting the wing up into position.

An alternate method of setting up the wing is to do so on the

ground. This is not preferable because the sail is susceptible to
getting dirty. However, this method could be used for setting
up wings if it is windy or if recommended by a particular
manufacturer. The ground method steps are the same as

5-12

Taking Down the WSC Aircraft

Find a suitable area to take down the wing, preferably grass,
cement, or pavement out of the wind. The best place is in
a large hangar so no wind gusts can affect the takedown. If
outside, align the wing perpendicular to the wind.

It is important to note that during the take down process, all

protective pads must be put in the proper place so that no
hardware can rub against the sail or frame during transport.
The POH should specify what pads go where. Overall,
pad everything along the wing keel plus the kingpost to
prevent cosmetic and/or structural damage occurring during
transport.
Taking down a WSC aircraft is done in the reverse order of
assembly with the following additional steps provided to get
the wing neatly packed and organized into the bag. After the
wing is detensioned and the battens have been removed from
the wing, keep the right and left battens separate for easier
sorting during the next assembly.
Carefully bring the wings in towards the keel and pull the sail
material out and over the top of the leading edges. Lower the
kingpost and pad it top and bottom. This is also the time to
pad the area underneath where the control frame is attached
to the keel and where the wires are attached to the rear of
the keel. [Figure 5-34] Bring the leading edges to the keel
and keep the sail pulled out over the top of the leading edge,
roll it up, and tuck the sail into the leading edge stiffener.
Fasten around the leading edge with sail ties. [Figure 5-35] It
is best to take one sail tie and secure the two leading edges
together so it fits into the bag. [Figure 5-36] Continue with
the reverse order (bag on, flip wing over, and disassemble
control frame at downtube and control bar junction). After
the control frame is disassembled and laid flat along the wing
as shown, the wires are not organized. [Figure 5-37] Pull
the cables forward towards the nose and organize them so
they are straight. Install the protective control frame pads
and carefully zip up the bag while tucking everything in so
there is no stress on the zipper. [Figure 5-38]

Figure 5-35. Left hand side rolled up and secured with wing tie.

Rolling right hand sail which will also be secured with wing tie.

Figure 5-36. Securing both leading edges together so the wing

easily fits into the bag.

Figure 5-37. Control bar folded down along leading edges but
wires not yet organized.

Figure 5-34. Padding the keel and kingpost with the right hand sail
over the top of the leading edge.

5-13

produces less lift, and will drop the wing, which makes it turn
in the direction where more twist was added. For example,
with an unwanted left hand turn, either decrease the twist
on the left hand wing (increase angle of attack at the tip) or
increase the twist on the right hand wing (decrease the angle
of attack at the tip).

Figure 5-38. Carefully zipping bag with minimum stress by tucking

in wires and organizing components.

Batten tension is one way of fixing very mild turns. Increasing

the batten tension at the tips especially decreases twist and
raises the wing. For normal mild turns, most wings have an
adjustment at the tip where you can rotate the wing tip around
the leading edge. This is the easiest and most effective wing
twist adjustment. [Figure 5-39] For some models, reflex at the
root can be adjusted on a side to adjust a significant turn. More
reflex on a side means wing up, similar to reducing twist in a
wing. As emphasized above, the POH for each manufacturer
must be used for adjusting twist for wing tuning.

Wing Tuning
Wings are designed to fly straight with a range of trim speeds
determined by the manufacturer. If the wing does not fly
straight or trim to the manufacturers specifications, it must
be tuned to fly properly. Any wing adjustment can change the
handling and stability characteristics of the wing. Each wing
is unique and the tuning procedures are unique for each wing.
It is very important to follow the specific tuning procedures
in the POH/AFM for the specific wing. The following are
general guidelines to understand the tuning process.
Tuning the Wing To Fly Straight
Wings may turn to the right or left (depending on which way
the propeller turns) at high power settings because of the
turning effect described earlier in the aerodynamics section.
If it does not fly straight for cruising flight, visually examine
for any asymmetric right and left features on the wing
before making any adjustments. Look for symmetry in the
twist angle. Inspect the leading edge for any discontinuities,
bumps, or an irregular leading edge stiffener. Ensure the
pockets are zippered and symmetrical on both sides. Ensure
the reflex lines are clear, straight, and routed properly. Check
the battens to ensure the right and left match (do not make
any adjustments in the battens initially because reflex may
have been added at the factory initially for tuning), and
ensure the battens match the manufacturers batten pattern.
Check the batten tension on both sides and the leading edge
tension to ensure it is symmetrical. If it is a used wing just
acquired, research the history of the wing to see what might
have happened which would cause it to not fly straight. For
new wings, contact the manufacturer for advice.
If these checks do not make the wing fly straight, then
adjust the twist in the wing according to the manufacturers
instructions. More twist on one side decreases angle of attack,

5-14

Sail Tension Markers

UP

DOW

Wing Twist Adjustment

For more twist, rotate up
For less twist, rotate down
Figure 5-39. Left hand wing tip twist adjustment shown without

sail.

Adjusting the tension on the leading edge is another method

of adjusting the wing twist. However, different wings will
react differently when tension is adjusted, so the POH must
be followed for a particular wing. Some manufacturers do
not suggest adjusting sail tension to adjust twist, but require
equal tension with other adjustments to remedy an unwanted
turn. For those wings utilizing asymmetrical sail tension to
adjust twist, the following information is provided. Adjusting
sail tension is most effective on slower wings with lots of
twist. Adjusting sail tension affects some high performance
wings differently, making it necessary to consult the POH.
However, on most wings, increasing sail tension at the tip
increases leading edge flex, resulting in more twist.
Tuning the Wing To Fly Slower or Faster
Most wings allow the hang point attachment to move forward
to increase trim speed and back to decrease trim speed.
If there is a situation where the hang point is at the most
forward position and the wing trims below the manufacturer

recommended speed, or the trim speed is within 10 miles

per hour (mph) of the stall speed, an alternate method for
increasing the trim speed is needed. For this situation, the
twist must be reduced symmetrically to increase the angle
of attack on the tips so they provide more lift and lower the
nose for proper trim.
This can be done by pulling back more on the crosstube
tensioning cables which reduces the twist in the wing.
However, this procedure reduces the stability of the wing
and decreases the handling ability of the wing because it is
stiffer. This is a common adjustment for hang gliding wings
for inflight trim, however this adjustment should only be
made on WSC wings as specified in the POH for a specific
wing.
Raising and lowering the reflex lines affects airfoil reflex
and also changes the trim speed of the wing. Lower reflex
lines speed the wing up and make it less stable, raising the
reflex lines slows the wing and make it more stable. Some
manufactures have this as an adjustable setting which can be
varied during flight, other manufactures have this adjustment
where it can be made on the ground. Other manufactures
do not recommend this adjustment because it can lower the
certified stability of the wing.

hit the propeller. Securing with zippered pockets and having

lanyards for the checklists is recommended. Manufacturers
of Special Light-Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) have checklists that
come with the aircraft. Pilots with an experimental aircraft
may need to develop their own.
Certicates and Documents
The rst step of preight inspection is to ensure the aircraft
is legally airworthy which is determined in part, by the
following certicates and documents:

Airworthiness certicate

Registration certicate

Operating limitations, which may be in the form of

an FAA-approved AFM/POH, placards, instrument
markings, or any combination thereof

Weight and balance

ARROW is the acronym commonly used to remember these

items. The PIC is responsible for making sure the proper
documentation is on board the aircraft when operated.
[Figure 5-41]

Preight Inspection
Each aircraft must have a routine preight inspection before
ight. Use a written checklist during preight and ground
operations to maintain an established procedure. [Figure 5-40]
A written checklist is required so nothing is forgotten. Ground
checklists include preight preparation, preight inspection,
occupant preight brief, ight deck management, startup, taxi,
before takeoff, and aircraft shutdown. Be smart and follow the
regulationsuse a written checklist. All checklists should be
secured so they do not y out of the ight deck in ight and
Figure 5-41. Registration and airworthiness certificates are required
to be in plain view.

Figure 5-40. Laminated index cards are handy for checklists, and
sized to fit into the flight suit zippered pocket.

Aircraft logbooks are not required to be on board when it

is operated. However, inspect the aircraft logbooks prior
to ight to conrm the WSC aircraft has had all required
inspections. The owner/operator must keep maintenance
records for the airframe and powerplant. At a minimum,
there must be an annual condition inspection within the
preceding 12 calendar months. In addition, the WSC
aircraft may also need a 100-hour inspection in accordance
with 14 CFR part 91 if it is used for hire (e.g., for training
operations). [Figure 5-42] If a transponder system is used,
the transponder must be inspected within each preceding 24
calendar months.

5-15

WSC LSA Maintenance Requirements

S-LSA-certified by FAA accepted ASTM consensus
standards
Annual and 100-hour condition inspection may be
performed by:
- LSA Repairman with Maintenance rating (120-hour course)
- A&P or FAA certificated repair station
Maintenance,* repair, and alterations may be performed by:
- LSA Repairman with Maintenance rating (as authorized
by manufacturer)
- A&P or FAA certificated repair station (as authorized by
manufacturer)
E-LSA including:
Ultralights/trainers transitioned to LSA that meet the criteria
of 14 CFR Section 21.191(i)(1)**
Manufacturer S-LSA kits that meet the criteria of 14 CFR
Section 21.191(i)(2) (not amateur built)
Converted from S-LSA that meet the criteria of 14 CFR
Section 21.191(i)(3) (see 14 CFR Section 41.1(b) for
servicing)
- Annual condition inspection may be performed by:
> LSA Repairman with Maintenance rating (120-hour
course)
> A&P or FAA certificated repair station
> Owner Repairman with Inspection rating (16-hour
course)
- Owner can be trained in his/her own aircraft and does
not need 100-hour inspection.
- Servicing, repair, and alterations may be performed by
anyone.***
Amateur built that meet the definition of LSA and criteria
of 14 CFR section 21.191(g)
Annual condition inspection may be performed by:
- Original builder gets Repairman certificate for that specific
airplane and can perform annual condition inspection:
- If owner was not original builder, Annual condition
inspection may be performed by:
> A&P or FAA certificated repair station or original builder
> Original builder
Owner can be trained in his/her own aircraft; 100-hour
inspection not necessary
Servicing, repair, and alterations may be performed by
anyone***
* Simple preventive maintenance as specified by manufacturer can
be done by the owner and operator of a S-LSA with a Sport Pilot or
higher certificate.
** 100-hour inspection if used for training, compensation, or hire
(if applicable) before January 31, 2010 (towing no end date) may be
performed by LSA Repairman with Maintenance rating, A&P or FAA
certificated repair station.
*** Maintenance is a common term, but it is not used here because the
FAA uses the word maintenance to refer to a specific level of service
required to be performed by properly trained mechanics.

Figure 5-42. Maintenance requirements for WSC LSA.

The pilot must have in his or her possession a Sport pilot

certicate for the aircraft being own, medical eligibility,
and a government issued photo identication. For a Sport
Pilot Certicate, medical eligibility can be a valid United
States drivers license, which also serves as government
issued photo identication.

5-16

To y the aircraft with Private Pilot privileges, the pilot

needs a valid FAA minimum third class medical certicate
accompanied by a government issued photo identication
and Private Pilot certicate for WSC aircraft. See Chapter 1,
Introduction to Weight-Shift Control, for details on specic
pilot certicates and privileges.
Routine Preight Inspection
The accomplishment of a safe ight begins with a careful
and systematic routine preight inspection to determine if
the aircraft is in a condition for safe ight. The preight
inspection should be performed in accordance with a printed
checklist provided by the manufacturer for the specic model
of the aircraft. However, the following general areas are
applicable to all WSC aircraft.
The preight inspection begins as soon as a pilot approaches
the aircraft. Since the WSC aircraft can be transported by
trailer, rst and foremost, look for any damage that may have
occurred during takedown, loading, transit, unloading, and
setup. Make note of the general appearance of the aircraft,
looking for obvious discrepancies such as tires with low air
pressure, structural distortion, wear points, and dripping fuel
or oil leaks. All tie-downs, control locks, and chocks should
be removed during the unloading process.
The pilot must be thoroughly familiar with the locations and
functions of the aircraft systems, switches, and controls. Use
the preight inspection as an orientation when operating a
particular model for the rst time.
The actual walk-around routine preight inspection has been
used for years from the smallest general aviation airplane
to the largest commercial jet. The walk-around is thorough
and systematic, and should be done the same way each
time an aircraft is own. In addition to seeing the aircraft
up close, it requires taking the appropriate action whenever
a discrepancy is discovered. A WSC aircraft walk-around
covers four main tasks:
1.

Wing inspection

2.

Carriage inspection

3.

Powerplant inspection

4.

Equipment check

Throughout the inspection, check for proper operation of

systems, secure nuts/bolts/attachments/hardware, look for
any signs of deterioration or deformation of any components/
systems, such as dents, signs of excessive wear, bending,
tears, or misalignment of any components and/or cracks.

Each WSC aircraft should have a specic routine preight

inspection checklist, but the following can be used as an
example and guideline.

Wing Inspection
Start with the nose. Inspect the nose plates and the attachment
to the leading edges and keel. Ensure the nose plates are not
cracked and the bolts are fastened securely. Check the wire
attachments, top and bottom.
Inspect the control frame, down tubes and control bar for
dents and ensure they are straight. Inspect the control frame
attachment to the keel. Inspect the control bar to down tube
brackets and bolts. [Figure 5-43] Inspect fore and aft ying
wire condition, attachment to the keel, and the lower control
bar corner brackets.

Figure 5-44. Inspecting the flying wire attachment to the leading

edge and crossbar along with all the hardware at this junction.

Figure 5-45. Examining inside the tip of the wing to inspect all the
Figure 5-43. Inspecting the control frame brackets and flying wire

components.

attachments.

Inspect the left side ying wire attachment to the control

bar bracket and condition of the ying wire up to the wing
attachment. Examine the ying wire attachment to the leading
edge and crossbar, as well as all hardware at this crossbar and
leading edge junction. [Figure 5-44] Inspect the condition of
the crossbar and the leading edge from the nose to the tip. Any
discrepancies or tears in the leading edge fabric must lead to
more detailed investigation of the leading edge spar itself.

Move along the trailing edge of the wing, inspecting the

condition of the trailing edge and the tip batten attachments
back to the keel. [Figure 5-46] Inspect the sail material,
top and bottom, on the wing. Note that the trailing edge is

Inspect the tip area, including the washout strut and general
condition of the tip. If it is a double surface wing, look inside
the tip and examine the inside of the wing and its components.
[Figure 5-45]
From the tip, inspect the surface condition of the fabric.
Generally, if the fabric has not been exposed to sunlight for
long periods and stored properly, the wing fabric should stay
in good shape.

Figure 5-46. Inspecting the trailing edge of the wing.

5-17

vulnerable to rocks ying up from the wheels and hitting the

propeller. Therefore, it is especially important to inspect the
trailing edge in detail before each ight.
At the aft keel area in the middle of wing, inspect the kingpost
and all the condition of the wires from the kingpost to ensure
they are not wrapped around the trailing edge battens.
[Figure 5-47] Inspect the wing tensioning hardware where
the crossbar tensioning cables attach to the rear of the keel.
Repeat this same sequence for the right (or opposite) side of
the wing, in the reverse order. Inspect the condition of the
wing attachment to the carriage, including the backup cable.
[Figure 5-48]

Carriage Inspection
Inspect the mast from the top to the bottom and the carriage
keel from the back to the front. [Figure 5-49] Check the front
tube attachment and top and bottom security attachments.
Check the seat security and seat attachments from the keel
to the mast.

Figure 5-49. Inspecting the front keel and seat attachments to the

keel.

Figure 5-47. Inspecting the kingpost, top wires, and crossbar

tension hardware.

Check the front nose wheel for proper play, tire ination,
and secure axle bolt. Test the ground steering bar and ensure
there is smooth steering range of motion. Check the front
shocks, if installed, the brakes for rust and corrosion, loose
nuts/bolts, alignment, cracks, signs of hydraulic uid leakage,
and hydraulic line security and abrasion, if so equipped.
[Figure 5-50] Check the foot throttle for smooth operation
and assure the parking brake is secured.

Figure 5-50. Checking the front wheel, tire, and front fork

assembly.

Inspect the main landing gear drag struts, attachment to the

keel, and attachment to the rear wheels. Examine the rear
tires for proper ination and tread plus the wheel attachment
Figure 5-48. Inspecting the wing attachment to the carriage.

5-18

nut for security. Check main landing gear strut, landing

gear shock absorber strut, and shock absorber operation.
[Figure 5-51] Inspect all landing gear strut attachments to
the airframe. Inspect the other sides rear landing gear by
repeating the above procedure in reverse. Check all cowling
for secure attachment and cracks. [Figure 5-52]

Figure 5-53. Checking the security of the engine to the airframe.

Figure 5-51. Checking the rear landing gear struts.

Inspect fuel pickup and fuel line running up to fuel

lter. While inspecting all fuel lines, jiggle all ttings
and connections to ensure they are secure.

Inspect fuel lter and continue to follow fuel line up

to fuel pump.

Inspect the security and condition of fuel pump.

Inspect fuel lines up to carburetors. [Figure 5-54]

Figure 5-52. Checking the cowl attachment for security and

cracks.

Powerplant Inspection
Inspect engine attachment to the carriage for security and
cracks. In addition to looking at the bolts and mounts,
shake the propeller, as shown in Figure 5-53, to provide a
secure check of the propeller, gearbox, engine, and engine
attachment to the carriage.
Fuel System

Inspect fuel tank attachment and condition.

Inspect fuel vent system, and ensure the fuel supply

line is open (some WSC aircraft have fuel shut off
valves outside the fuel tank).

Figure 5-54. Checking the security and condition of the fuel lines
and fuel filter condition.

Induction System

Inspect carburetors, including oat bowl attachment

and rubber bushing from carburetors into engine.

Inspect fuel lines from oat bowls to carburetor inlet.

Inspect air inlet lter to ensure it is clean and secure.

[Figure 5-55]

5-19

the condition of exhaust system for cracks and attachment

security. [Figure 5-57]

Figure 5-55. Checking the security of the air inlet filter and the

security of the carburetors to the engine.

Ignition System
Figure 5-57. Inspecting the exhaust system by jiggling the outlet

Inspect ignition system wires to spark plugs.

pipe and checking the springs.

Inspect spark plug caps and wires to CDI units to

ensure they are secure and fastened. [Figure 5-56]

Propeller Gearbox

Ensure ignition switches are turned off.

Rotate the propeller in the proper direction only and inspect

blades for cracks or nicks. Listen and feel for smooth
operation and engine compression while rotating the
propeller. Inspect propeller attachment to the gearbox and
the gearbox attachment to the engine.

Throttle System
Check all throttle controls for smooth operation and proper
travel and locking. Also check choke and/or primer system
for proper operation and travel.

Figure 5-56. Checking spark plug cap security to the spark plugs.

Flight Deck Inspection

The following should be performed for a flight deck
inspection:

Check seat security and proper adjustment for pilot

and passenger.

Check seat belt attachment and seatbelt operation.

Inspect the gauges for security and readability.

Switch electrical master on and check gauges for

expected readings. [Figure 5-58]

Check ballistic parachute handle for security and

proper location.

Cooling Systems
Ensure there is clear airow for any cooling system fan or
radiator. Ensure no insects or birds created an obstruction to
the airow for the engine cooling system.
Air cooledrotate the propeller and ensure that the cooling
fan rotates also.
Water cooledcheck the coolant level to ensure there is
cooling uid in the system.
Four stroke with additional oil coolersensure the oil cooler
has clear airow and that nothing is blocking it.

Exhaust Systems
Inspect exhaust attachment to engine, and EGT senders.
Slightly jiggle the exhaust system to inspect the springs
holding it together. All springs must be secure. Inspect

5-20

Fuel
Overall, particular attention should be paid to the fuel quantity,
type/grade, and quality. Modern WSC two- and four-stroke
engines are designed to use auto gas with various octane ratings
as specied by the manufacturer for different models. If auto
gas is stored for more than 3 weeks, octane value may fall
below the recommended rating. In this situation, it is best to
drain the gas and use fresh gas. For engines designed for auto
gas, aviation gasoline (AVGAS) 100LL can be mixed and used

Figure 5-58. Checking the flight deck instruments for readability

and security. Turning on the main electrical power to verify proper

instrument readings.

on a limited basis but the lead in this is not good for the engine
and additional precautions/procedures should be researched for
the particular make/model of engine for primary use.
Always use a higher grade/octane of fuel rather than a lower
grade, or detonation will severely damage the engine in a very
short period of time. Check the aircraft operation manual and
the engine manual for the type of fuel to use.
When attempting to fuel for maximum capacity, remember
that many fuel tanks are very sensitive to attitude. Fill the
aircraft on a level surface and check to ensure the amount
of fuel in the tanks is adequate for the planned ight plus 30
minutes of reserve. Check the level in the fuel tank plus the
panel-mounted gauge, if so equipped.

Figure 5-59. Translucent fuel containers with premixed oil (right)

and auto gas only (left).

of oil during normal operation. If consumption grows or

suddenly changes, qualied maintenance personnel should
investigate.
If the Rotax 912 oil level is low when the oil is checked,
rotate the propeller in the correct direction (counterclockwise,
facing it) to pump any oil from the engine back into the oil
tank for a proper measurement and recheck oil level before
adding oil. [Figure 5-60]

To transport gasoline, clear gas cans are preferable because

the fuel is visible through the container and allows a pilot to
look at the container for fuel level. [Figure 5-59]
An important step in any preight is to check for water and
other sediment contamination. Avgas is more probable to
have water in the fuel tanks because auto gas typically has
alcohol in it to boost the octane. Alcohol absorbs water,
running it harmlessly through the system.
When using 100LL Avgas, water tends to accumulate in
fuel tanks from condensation, particularly in partially lled
tanks. Because water is heavier than fuel, it tends to collect
in the low points of the fuel system. If Avgas is used, drain
any water from the low point in the system.
Oil
A four-stroke engines oil level should be checked during
each preight and rechecked with each refueling. Fourstroke engines can be expected to consume a small amount

Four-stroke engine oil resevoir

for checking oil with dip stick

Figure 5-60. Four-stroke engine showing the oil reservoir where

the dip stick is located to check the oil.

Check the reservoir level of two-stroke engines with oil

injection at each gas ll-up. It is also very important to ensure
the oil reservoir has clear air vent holes to allow continuous
ow of oil to lubricate the engine. Always use the same type
of oil because different types of oil harden and stop the oil
injection process, resulting in a seized engine. Additionally,

5-21

check to see if the oil injection system lines from the tank
to the carburetors are clean and secure. Some two-stroke
engines have a separate lubrication system for the inlet rotary
valve; this system should be checked for proper level and
leaks. [Figure 5-61] When adding fuel and oil, ensure that
the caps has been securely replaced.

and must be accomplished before starting the engine.

Manufacturers of S-LSA aircraft typically have printed
briefing cards that should be used. The following is a
comprehensive checklist that can be used as a guideline for
any preight brieng:

Seat belt fasten and unfasten procedures. Seat belts

must be worn for takeoff and landing (and should
always be worn during ight).

What passengers can hold onto and what not to

touch.

Positive exchange of controls using a three step

process : You take the controls, I have the controls,
You have the controls.

Look for other ground and air trafc.

Flight deck entrance and exit procedures including

emergency exit.

Ballistic parachute operation procedures.

Engine-out situation and procedures for planned ight

with diversions.

Hand signals in case electric loads must be shut off

or internal aircraft communications not functioning.

Water landings with engine-out situation, if planned

ight over water.

Ensure nothing can fall out of pockets while in ight.

This is especially important since the propeller is in
back.

Helmet fastening and unfastening procedure.

[Figure 5-62]

Oil Injection Level

Liquid Cooled Resevoir

Rotary Inlet Valve Oil Level

Figure 5-61. Two-stroke engine showing oil injection reservoir

and level, rotary inlet valve reservoir and level, and liquid cooled
reservoir for checking coolant levels.

Ready Aircraft To Enter Flight Deck

Either before or after the routine preight inspection, the
aircraft should be unsecured, positioned for starting, and
readied to enter the ight deck. A checklist provides the
basic steps.

Untie aircraft, secure tie down ropes in aircraft, or coil

neatly if they stay at airport.

Remove ground chocks and secure in aircraft.

Locate a suitable area to start engine that is free of dirt

and has minimal dust, preferably a paved or grassy
area away from people and objects.

Position aircraft so prop blast is clear; verify that

brakes are on, throttle is closed, and propeller area is
cleared.

Position into wind, if possible, for best cooling during

warm up.

Figure 5-62. Pilot briefing the passenger on how to fasten and

unfasten helmet.

Occupant Preight Brief

A preight brieng is required to ensure the passenger is
informed on the proper use of safety equipment and exit
information. This can be done before entering the aircraft,

5-22

Review the type of aircraft (special or experimental)

which is not an FAA certified standard category
aircraft.

Fire extinguisher operation, if so equipped.

All safety systems, as required.

Use restroom before entering aircraft.

Flight Deck Management

After entering the ight deck, the pilot should rst ensure that
all necessary equipment, documents, checklists, and navigation
charts appropriate for the ight are on board. [Figure 5-63] If a
portable intercom, headsets, or a hand-held global positioning
system (GPS) is used, the pilot is responsible for ensuring
that the routing of wires and cables does not interfere with
the motion or the operation of any control.

Demonstrate and practice what passengers can hold

onto, and what not to touch.

Demonstrate and practice positive exchange of

controls.

Remove safety pin for ballistic chute operation.

Install helmet (if applicable) and headphones.

Check intercom and radio communications systems.

Install eye protection (safety glasses, helmet

shields).

It is important that a pilot operates an aircraft safely on the

ground. This includes being familiar with standard hand
signals that are used universally for ground operations.
[Figure 5-64]
Engine Start
The specic procedures for engine start vary greatly since
there are as many different methods as there are engines, fuel
systems, and starting conditions. The engine start checklist
procedures in the POH should be followed. The following
are some basic steps that apply to most aircraft:

Key in, ignition on, master power on

Check gauges for operation and fuel level.

Fuel pump on (or pump fuel bulb to ll carburetor

bowls)

flight deck.

Regardless of what materials are to be used, they should

be neatly arranged and organized in a manner that makes
them readily available. The ight deck should be checked
for articles that might be tossed about if turbulence is
encountered, and any loose items properly secured.

System switches on. (Some WSC have specic system

switches turned on after the engine is started because
engine starting may create lower voltage possibly
damaging instruments or systems. If in doubt, start
engine and than turn on instruments and systems not
needed for starting.)

Both ignition systems switches on

Choke/enrichener on (or pump primer as

appropriate)

Throttle closed

Brakes on

Ensure propeller area is cleared, loudly announce

to propeller area Clear prop, and wait for any
response.

Figure 5-63. Pilot fastens helmet and reviews checklist while in

When the pilot is comfortably seated, the safety belt and

shoulder harness (if installed) should be fastened and adjusted
to a comfortably snug t. The safety belt must be worn at all
times the pilot is seated at the controls.

Checklist After Entering Flight Deck

Seats adjusted for full operation of all controls.

Seats locked into position.

Put on seat belts (lap rst, then shoulder) and adjust

so all controls and systems can be fully operated.

Start engine through pull cord start or electric start

(do not try to hand prop under any circumstances)

Check all control systems for proper operation.

Ensure the aircraft does not move, keeping hands on

ignition switches for quick shutdown, if necessary.

Check all systems operations.

Adjust throttle, choke or enrichener to keep engine

running smoothly.

Demonstrate and practice flight and emergency

equipment and procedures.
5-23

start with a cold engine, as there is insufcient lubrication

until the oil pressure rises on four-stroke engines, and unequal
heating on two-stroke engines. In freezing temperatures,
the engine is also exposed to potential mechanical distress
until it warms and normal internal operating clearances are
reached.

Stop

Come ahead

Emergency stop

On four-stroke engines, as soon as the engine is started,

the oil pressure should be checked. If it does not rise to
the manufacturers specied value, the engine may not
be receiving proper lubrication and should be shut down
immediately to prevent serious damage.

Taxiing

Cut engines

All clear (O.K.)

Left turn

Start engine

Pull chocks

Insert Chocks
NIGHT OPERATION

Slow down

Right turn

Since an aircraft is moved under its own power between

the startup area and the runway, the pilot must thoroughly
understand and be procient in taxi procedures. When the
brakes are rst released and the aircraft starts to roll, the
brakes should be tested immediately for proper operation.
Applying power to start the WSC aircraft moving forward
slowly, then retarding the throttle and simultaneously
applying pressure smoothly on the brake may be needed to
accomplish this. If braking action is unsatisfactory, the engine
should be shut down immediately.
When yellow taxiway centerline stripes are provided, they
should be followed unless it becomes necessary to deviate
to clear aircraft or obstructions. [Figure 5-65]

Same hand
movements as
day operational

Figure 5-64. Hand signals for ground operations.

Turn on electric instruments if applicable.

Check gauges for proper ranges (oil pressure,

revolutions per minute (rpm), charging voltage, engine
temperatures within ranges, etc.)

Continue to monitor area and shut down engine if any

person or animal approaches.

A relatively low rpm setting is recommended immediately

following engine start. This is typically a slight increase in
the throttle to keep the engine running smoothly. It is not
recommended to allow the rpm to race immediately after a

5-24

Figure 5-65. Taxiing on the yellow airport taxi line.

An awareness of other aircraft that are taking off, landing, or

taxiing, and consideration for the right-of-way of others is
essential to safety. When taxiing, the pilots eyes should be
looking outside the aircraft, to the sides, as well as the front.
The pilot must be aware of the entire area around the aircraft
to ensure that it clears all obstructions, people, animals, and
other aircraft. If at any time there is doubt about the clearance
from an object, the pilot should stop the aircraft and check

the clearance. The WSC aircraft does have the advantage of

the wing tip capability of being raised and lowered to clear
objects.
It is difcult to set any rule for a single, safe taxiing speed.
What is reasonable and prudent under some conditions may
be hazardous under others. The primary requirements for safe
taxiing are positive control, the ability to recognize potential
hazards in time to avoid them, and the ability to stop or turn
where and when desired without undue reliance on the brakes.
Pilots should proceed at a cautious speed on congested or
busy ramps. Normally, the speed should be at the rate at
which movement of the aircraft is dependent on the throttle.
That is, the speed should be low enough that when the throttle
is closed, the aircraft can be stopped promptly.
A GPS provides this speed since the airspeed indicator is not
effective at these lower speeds. A rule of thumb is 5 mph, brisk
walking speed, or 10 mph for long unobstructed areas. When
taxiing, it is best to slow down before attempting a turn.
WSC aircraft taxi with the wing typically held in a neutral
position, but stronger winds may require positioning of the
wing so it cannot be lifted. Position controls properly for
wind conditions:

Strong tailwindpitch control normal or slight nose

up with wings level.

Strong headwindpitch control nose down with

wings level.

Strong quartering tail windnose normal with upwind

wing slightly down so wind cannot catch it, but not to
low to cause excess stress on carriage mast.

Strong quartering head windnose down with upwind

wing slightly down so wind cannot catch it, but not
low enough to cause excess stress on carriage mast.

Two aircraft approaching head on will turn right

(similar to what is done in a car).

Two aircraft traveling in same direction, the

forward aircraft has right of way because its pilot
can not normally see the aircraft in back.

With two airplanes converging, the pilot who sees

an aircraft on the right must avoid that aircraft.
The aircraft on the right has the right of way.

Runway incursionsobserve all taxiway and runway

markings.

Runway incursions are a signicant risk and must be avoided.

This is a most important concept. Taxi slowly and observe
the basic airport markings/signs. Clearance to proceed must
be obtained prior to taxiing across any runway or entering a
runway to takeoff. There could be large aircraft, which may
not be able to respond to WSC aircraft quick movements. An
important runway marker is the Hold Short Line. Always
stop before reaching this line and get clearance before
crossing it. [Figure 5-66]

At a towered airport, this is clearance from the tower.

Always read back tower instructions clearance when
received from tower before proceeding.

At a nontowered airport, the clearance procedure is

to listen to and monitor all air trafc on the airport
radio frequency. Observe all air trafc taxiing and in
the pattern. After listening on the radio and observing
all possible trafc, announce position and intentions
before crossing runway or entering runway. If crossing
runway, announce once you have taxied across that
you are clear of runway.

Checklist for Taxi

Plan taxi path to runway to avoid paths that would put the
aircraft behind any propeller or jet blast. Observe other
aircraft closely which could start up and taxi in front, if
practical.

Turn on strobe light (if applicable).

Release brake.

When rst rolling, immediately check brakes, steering,

and shut down if either is not functioning properly.

Observe proper right of way while taxiing.

-

Taxiing aircraft yield to landing aircraft, so

landing craft have right of way over taxiing
aircraft.

Figure 5-66. Taxi on the airport yellow taxi line, but stop at the
hold short line to get clearance before taxiing across or onto an
active airport runway.

5-25

Before Takeoff Check

The before takeoff check is the systematic procedure for
making a check of the engine, controls, systems, instruments,
and avionics prior to ight. Normally, it is performed after
taxiing to a position near the takeoff end of the runway.
Taxiing to that position usually allows sufficient time
for the engine to warm up to at least minimum operating
temperatures. This ensures adequate lubrication and internal
engine clearances before being operated at high power
settings. Many engines require that the oil temperature or
engine temperature reach a minimum value, as stated in the
AFM/POH, before high power is applied.
Some WSC aircraft are ram air cooled, where the cooling
air must be rammed into the cooling radiator during ight.
On the ground, however, little or no air is forced through
the radiator. Prolonged ground operations may cause engine
overheating. Some designs place the cooling radiators near
the propeller so the propeller produces reasonable airow
to cool the engine.
Air cooled two-stroke engine aircraft may have an integral
engine driven cooling fan and can idle indenitely without
overheating. Monitoring engine temperature to be within
limits is important for aircraft operations on the ground.
After taxiing to the runway entrance runup area and before
beginning the pretakeoff check, the aircraft should be
positioned clear of other aircraft. When you taxi out to the
run up area, position your self where other aircraft can easily
taxi to a suitable run up area. There should not be anything
behind the aircraft that might be damaged by the prop
blast. To minimize overheating during engine run-up, it is
recommended that the aircraft be headed as nearly as possible
into the wind. After an aircraft is properly positioned for the
run-up, the nose wheel should be pointed straight.
During the engine run-up, the surface under the WSC aircraft
should be rm (a smooth, paved, or turf surface, if possible)
and free of debris. Otherwise, the propeller may pick up
pebbles, dirt, or other loose objects and hurl them backward
or into the sail. [Figure 5-67]
While performing the engine run-up, the pilot must divide
attention inside to look at the instruments and outside the
aircraft to look for other trafc. If the parking brake slips,
or if application of the brakes is inadequate for the amount
of power applied, the aircraft could move forward unnoticed
if attention is xed only inside the aircraft.
Each aircraft has different features and equipment, and the
before takeoff checklist provided by the WSC manufacturer

5-26

Figure 5-67. Positioned in the aircraft run up area before takeoff,

the WSC is ready to perform the pretakeoff checklist.

should be used to perform the run-up. Here is a general

checklist.

Verify the strobe light is on (if applicable).

Trim is set to proper speed for takeoff.

Brakes are set.

Ignition checkalways divide attention into and out

of the ight deck in case the brakes can not hold the
aircraft still at the higher power settings. (Some ignition
checks are done at idle; see POH for engine specics.)
If the brakes start to slip and the aircraft starts moving,
decrease power immediately and reevaluate how to run
up and keep the aircraft stationary during run up. Run up
engine to consistent rpm higher than idle. Switch from
both ignition systems to one and watch for a slight drop
in rpm. Do the same for the other ignition system.

Verify engine temperatures (EGT, CHT, oil and/or water)

and oil pressure are within the acceptable ranges.

At towered airports, obtain clearance from tower when ready

for takeoff. At nontowered airports, when all air trafc is
clear from observations and radio communications and while
holding short before the runway boundary (hold short) line,
announce the aircraft is entering the runway. This is a pilots
clearance at a self-announce airport to enter the runway. At
all airports, do a visual verication that there are no aircraft
landing before entering the runway.
After Landing
During the after-landing roll, the WSC aircraft should be
gradually slowed to normal taxi speed before turning off
the landing runway. Any signicant degree of turn at faster
speeds could result in the WSC aircraft tipping over and
subsequent damage. [Figure 5-68]

attached to the seat rail to keep the nose down in case of a

possible headwind. [Figure 5-69]

Figure 5-68. After landing, the pilot slows to the appropriate taxi

speed before following the yellow taxi lines to exit the runway.

To give full attention to controlling the WSC aircraft during

the landing roll, the after-landing check should be performed
only after the aircraft is brought to a complete stop clear of
the active runway.
Postight, Parking, and Securing
A ight is never complete until the engine is shut down and
the WSC aircraft is secured. A pilot should consider this an
essential part of any ight. Unless parking in a designated,
supervised area, the pilot should select a location which
prevents propeller or jet blast of other airplanes from striking
the WSC aircraft.

Figure 5-69. Typical tie down for light wind. Left hand WSC control
bar pulled back to lower nose for possible headwind, right hand
control bar fastened to front tube.

If higher winds are present, the WSC aircraft can be positioned

so the wind is blowing from the side and the wing tip is
lowered on the windward side so the wind is pushing down
on the wing. This can be used to exit the aircraft and tie the
wing down in higher winds. [Figures 5-70 through 5-72]

The pilot should always use the procedures in the

manufacturers checklist for shutting down the engine and
securing the airplane. Some of the important items include:

Set the parking brakes on.

Set throttle to idle and let engine cool down to

manufactures specications.

Turn ignition switch off.

Turn electrical units and radios off.

Turn master electrical switch to off.

Figure 5-70. Pilots view of the left hand wing lowered into the wind,
allowing the pilot to exit the aircraft in higher winds with the wind
pushing down on the wing from the side.

After engine shutdown and exiting the aircraft, the pilot

should accomplish a postight inspection. When the ight
is complete, the aircraft should be hangared or tied down
appropriately for the situation.
There are a number of ways to park and secure the WSC aircraft
depending on the situation. With normal aircraft tie downs,
little to no wind, and a short time frame for unsupervised
parking, the WSC aircraft can be secured by tying both leading
edge cross bar junctions to the typical airport wing ties. The
control bar is secured to the front tube with a bungee chord
to stabilize the nose or the control bar can be pulled back and

Figure 5-71. Wing tied down with tip on ground into wind.

5-27

EnVironment: where to fly, weather conditions,

forecast for departure and destination airelds, route
of ight, and specic airport patterns/runway lengths.
Pilot capabilities must be compared to the weather
limitations for the decision of whether to go to the
aireld.

External pressures: schedules, available alternatives,

purpose of ight.

Preight procedures include:

Set up of the wing and mounting the wing on the

carriage (if trailered or taken down).

Tuning the wing to y straight and at the proper trim

speed.

Preight inspection with written checklist of wing,

carriage, powerplant, systems, and ight deck.

Readying aircraft to enter by proper positioning and

occupant preight brief.

Engine start, taxi, and performing before takeoff

check.

Figure 5-72. Group of WSC aircraft tied down with wing tips lowered

into prevailing wind.

For overnight or higher wind tie down, the complete wing

can be lowered to the ground with a four point tie down.
Each wing at the crossbar/leading edge junction plus the
nose and rear of the keel can be tied down for greater
resistance to wind. For humid or dusty areas, a cover is
recommended for the carriage to cover the engine and ight
deck. [Figure 5-73]

Postight procedures include:

Figure 5-73. Wing lowered and four point tie-down with carriage

cover to protect flight deck and engine.

The best way to secure the WSC aircraft for overnight is to

put it in a hangar. If it must be stored outside, remove the
wing and fold it up so there is no chance of the wing being
damaged in an unforeseen gust front.

Chapter Summary
Preight preparations should include the overall evaluation
of the:

Pilot: experience, sleep, food and water, drugs or

medications, stress, illness and overall aeromedical
factors, as discussed in Chapter 1, Introduction to
Weight-Shift Control.

Aircraft: proper transport, fuel, weight (does not

exceed maximum), ARROW, takeoff and landing
requirements, equipment.

5-28

Taxi off runway to appropriate location.

Park, exit, post flight and documenting any

discrepancies.

Hangar, secure or take down.

Chapter 6

Flight Manuevers
Introduction
Flying a weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft is not like
driving an automobile on the highway. It is also different
from operating the controls of an airplane. A WSC pilot
holds the control bar, which is a structural component
of the wing, in his or her hands. This wing is attached to
the carriage and freely rotates laterally and longitudinally
about the hang point. Therefore, the feel of the WSC is
completely different from other aircraft because there are no
movable control surfaces actuated through push/pull rods
or cables connected to a separate control actuator, such as
a stick or yoke.
The pilot feels forces on the wing through the control bar,
which is part of the wing structure with no mechanical
advantage. Simply, the feel of the WSC is different from other
aircraft but the basic ight maneuvers are similar.

6-1

Wing Rotation Point

Figure 6-1. Roll diagram.

Practicing the basics with precision and understanding the

effects on the pilot and the aircraft develop a feel for the
aircraft in ight so the pilot can concentrate on the ying
mission at hand and not on the mechanical movements. The
ability to perform any assigned maneuver is only a matter of
obtaining a clear visual and mental conception of it so that
perfect performance is a habit without conscious effort.

from which the movements are judged and described. The

important concept and a foundation for all ight maneuvers
is not to think of the controls in terms of up or down in
respect to the Earth. This is only a relative state to the pilot.
Controls need to be thought of in relation to the pilot, so that
the control use can be for any ight attitude whether climbing,
diving, banking, or a combination of these.

Begin with the ight basics to build a foundation for precision

ying. Takeoffs/landings and emergency maneuvers are
covered in later chapters. All ying tasks are based on the
four fundamental ight maneuvers:

Sideways pressure applied by moving the control bar to the

left lowers the right wing in relation to the pilot; moving
the control bar to the right lowers the left wing in relation
to the pilot. This is roll control as discussed in Chapter 2,
Aerodynamics. [Figure 6-1]

Straight-and-level ight

Turns

Climbs

Descents

Controlled ight consists of either one or a combination of

these basic maneuvers.

Effects and the Use of the Controls

In using the ight controls, the results should be looked at in
relation to the pilot. The pilot should always be considered
the center of movement of the aircraft or the reference point

Normal Flight
Bar at trim

Pushing and forward pressure applied to the control bar

results in the WSC aircrafts nose rising in relation to the pilot
slowing down the WSC, while pulling in or back pressure
results in the nose lowering in relation to the pilot increasing
speed of the WSC. At the same trim speed, increasing the
throttle results in the nose remaining at the same level in
relation to the pilot but raising pitch with increased throttle
and lowering pitch with decreased throttle in relation to the
Earths horizon. Both control bar and throttle effect pitch
in relation to the earths horizon. This is pitch control, as
discussed in Chapter 2, Aerodynamics. [Figure 6-2]

Increased Pitch
Bar outSlow Flight

Decreased Pitch
Bar inFast Flight
Nose down

Nose up

Figure 6-2. Control bar effect on pitch and airspeed.

6-2

Feel of the Aircraft

All WSC aircraft controls have a natural live pressure
while in ight and will remain in a neutral position of their
own accord if the aircraft is trimmed properly. The pilot
should think of exerting a force on the controls against this
live pressure or resistance. It is the duration and amount of
force exerted on the control bar that affects the controls and
maneuvers the WSC aircraft.

unless an effective wind screen is placed in front of the pilot

blocking the wind. [Figure 6-4]

The actual amount of the control input is of little importance;

but it is important that the pilot maneuver the aircraft by
applying sufcient control pressure to obtain a desired result,
regardless of how far the control bar is actually moved. The
controls should be held lightly, not grabbed and squeezed. A
common error for beginning pilots is a tendency to tightly
grip the bar. This tendency should be avoided as it prevents
the development of feel, which is an important part of
aircraft control. [Figure 6-3]

Figure 6-4. Wind shield blocks the wind from hitting the pilot.
Figure 6-3. Hold the control bar with a light touch to feel every
movement in the wing.

However, for WSC aircraft, the controls do need to be gripped

during moderate and severe turbulence to make sure the wing
does not get ripped out of the pilots hands. This is why ying
a WSC aircraft in turbulence requires strength and endurance.
It can be fatiguing if the pilot is not used to or in shape for
this type of ying. The initial ight training should be done
in calm conditions so the student can use a soft touch on the
controls to develop the feel for the WSC aircraft.
The ability to sense a ight condition is often called feel
of the aircraft, but senses in addition to feel are also
involved. Sounds inherent to ight are an important sense
in developing feel. The air that rushes past an open ight
deck can be felt and heard easily within the tolerances of the
Practical Test Standards (PTS) of 10 knots. When the level
of sound increases, it indicates that airspeed is increasing. In
addition to the sound of the air, air rushing past is also felt

The powerplant emits distinctive sound patterns in different

conditions of ight. The sound of the engine in cruise ight
sounds different from the sound in a glide or a climb. Overall,
there are three sources of actual feel that are very important
to the pilot.
1.

The rst source is the pilots own body as it responds

to forces of acceleration. The G loads, as discussed
in Chapter 2, imposed on the airframe are also felt by
the pilot. Centripetal acceleration forces the pilot down
into the seat or raises the pilot against the seat belt.
Radial accelerations, although minor for WSC aircraft,
are caused by minor slips or skids in uncoordinated
ight and shift the pilot from side to side in the seat.
These forces are all perceptible and useful to the pilot.
Flight time plus the pilots desire to feel the aircraft
provides the pilot an excellent feel for the aircraft
and the ability to detect even the smallest change in
ight. A goal for any pilot should be to constantly
develop a better feel for their aircraft.

6-3

2.

The response of the controls to the pilots touch is

another element of feel, and is one that provides
direct information concerning airspeed.

3.

Another type of feel comes to the pilot through the

airframe. It consists mainly of vibration. An example
is the aerodynamic buffeting and shaking that precedes
a stall. Different airspeeds and power settings can also
provide a subtle feel in aircraft vibrations.

Kinesthesia, or the sensing of changes in direction or speed

of motion, is one of the most important senses a pilot can
develop. When properly developed, kinesthesia can warn the
pilot of changes in speed and/or the beginning of a settling
or mushing of the aircraft.
The senses that contribute to feel of the aircraft are inherent
in every person. However, feel must be developed. It is a
well established fact that the pilot who develops a feel for
the aircraft early in ight training has little difculty with
advanced ight maneuvers.

Attitude Flying
Flying by attitude means visually establishing the aircrafts
attitude with reference to the natural horizon. Attitude
is the angular difference measured between an aircrafts

axis and the Earths horizon. As discussed in Chapter 2,

Aerodynamics, pitch attitude is the angle formed by the
longitudinal axis, and bank attitude is the angle formed by the
lateral axis. Rotation about the aircrafts vertical axis (yaw)
is termed an attitude relative to the aircrafts ightpath, but
not relative to the natural horizon.
In attitude ying, aircraft control is composed of three
components:
1.

Bank controlcontrol of the aircraft about the

longitudinal axis to attain a desired bank angle in
relation to the natural horizon. This can be easily seen
in a WSC aircraft by looking at the angle the front tube
makes with the horizon. [Figure 6-5]

2.

Pitch controlcontrol of the aircraft about the lateral

axis to raise and lower the nose in relation to the
natural horizon.

3.

Power controlused when the ight situation indicates

a need for a change in thrust, which at a constant
speed raises and lowers the nose in relationship to the
horizon similar to pitch control.

Straight-and-Level Flying
Flying straight and level is the most important flight
maneuver to master. It is impossible to emphasize too

Figure 6-5. Pilots view of 45 bank angle can be measured with the front tube or the control bars angle with the horizon.

6-4

strongly the necessity for forming correct habits in ying

straight and level. All ight is in essence a deviation from
this fundamental ight maneuver. It is not uncommon to
nd a pilot whose basic ying ability consistently falls just
short of minimum expected standards, and upon analyzing
the reasons for the shortcomings discover that the cause is
the inability to y straight and level properly.
In learning to control the aircraft in level ight, it is important
that the control forces be exerted just enough to produce the
desired result. Some wings are more responsive than others.
The student should learn to associate the apparent movement
of the control bar with the response in pitch and roll. In this
way, the student can develop the ability to regulate the change
desired in the aircrafts attitude by the amount and direction
of forces applied to the controls without the necessity of
referring to outside references for each minor correction.
Straight-and-level flight is flight in which a constant
heading and altitude are maintained. It is accomplished by
making immediate and measured corrections for deviations
in direction and altitude from unintentional slight turns,
descents, and climbs. Level ight is a matter of consciously
xing the relationship of the position of something on the
aircraft, used as a reference point with a point on the horizon.
In establishing the reference point on the aircraft, place the
aircraft in the desired position and select a reference point.
A typical reference point on the WSC aircraft is a point on
the front tube.
The WSC aircraft reference point depends on where the
pilot is sitting, the pilots height (whether short or tall), and
the pilots manner of sitting. It is, therefore, important when
establishing this relationship, the pilot sit in a normal manner;
otherwise the points will not be the same when the normal
position is resumed. [Figures 6-6 and 6-7]
Straight-and-level ight should rst be practiced in calm air
where the control movements determine the actual movement
through the air and air movement has minimal effect on the
aircrafts altitude and direction.
A trim speed needs to be set if the WSC aircraft has an inight
trim system or the trim speed set on the ground is used. The
throttle is adjusted so the aircraft is ying level, not climbing
or descending. This can be determined by looking at the
altimeter or the vertical speed indicator (if so equipped). The
throttle setting is the control for maintaining level ight for a
specic weight, loading, trim speed, and density altitude.
Level ight is maintained by selecting some portion of the
aircrafts nose as a reference point, and then keeping that
point in a xed position relative to the horizon. Using the

principles of attitude ying, that position should be crosschecked occasionally against the altimeter to determine
whether or not the throttle setting and pitch attitude are
correct. If altitude is being gained or lost, the pitch attitude
should be readjusted with the throttle in relation to the
horizon. Then, recheck the altimeter to determine if altitude
is being maintained and adjust the throttle accordingly. The
throttle setting for this condition should be noted and all
future changes in weight, trim speed, and density altitude
referenced to this known throttle setting.
After level ight is mastered in calm air, it can be practiced
in air that is moving, minor turbulence or active air. The
throttle settings for similar weight, trim, and density altitude
are the same, but more pilot input is required to maintain a
constant altitude. The throttle is used to maintain a selected
distance above the reference point for local air movement, but
the pitch pressure (nose up or nose down) is used to control
this attitude for shorter duration air disturbances.
Typically, updrafts or thermals raise the nose of the aircraft
and downdrafts at the edge of thermals lower the nose of the
aircraft. For minor updrafts the nose is lowered by pitch control
input by the pilot slightly increasing the speed of the aircraft
to keep the pitch at a constant level. In moderate to severe
updrafts, the throttle can be reduced to assist in maintaining
a reasonably constant pitch angle with the horizon.
Similarly for minor downdrafts that lower the nose, the nose
is raised by pitch control input by the pilot slightly decreasing
the speed of the aircraft to keep the pitch at a constant level.
An additional caution for raising the nose and decreasing the
speed is that raising the nose too high could stall the aircraft.
Therefore, caution must be exercised in moderate downdrafts
not to reduce the speed too much to approach a stall speed/
critical angle of attack. Similar to reducing the throttle in
updrafts to reduce pitch angle, increasing the throttle typically
increases the pitch angle. [Figure 6-8]
WSC aircraft can use the front tube as a reference to align
perpendicular with the horizon and the wings leveled. It
should be noted that any time the wings are banked even
slightly, the aircraft will turn.
The front tube can be used as an indicator to determine turn
rate. If the bar is moving side to side to any established
reference point, the aircraft is banked and should be corrected
to eliminate any turn. The objective of straight-and-level
ight is to detect small deviations from level ight as soon
as they occur, necessitating only small corrections.
Straight-and-level ight requires almost no application of
control pressures if the aircraft is properly trimmed and the

6-5

Reference point on the horizon

Figure 6-6. A reference point on the horizon chosen.

Reference point on front tube lined

up with reference point on horizon

Figure 6-7. Pilots view of a reference point on the front tube chosen for level flight and lined up with the reference point on the horizon

for straight-and-level flight.

6-6

Bar at trim

A Air not rising or falling

Bar infast flight

B
B Updraft
Updraft

Bar outslow flight

C Downdraft

Bar at trim

D Air not rising or falling

Figure 6-8. Thermal updraft and downdraft sequence.

air is smooth. For that reason, pilots must not form the habit
of constant, unnecessary control movement. Pilots should
learn to recognize when corrections are necessary, and then
make a measured response easily and naturally.
Common errors in the performance of straight-and-level
ight are:

Attempting to use improper reference points on the

aircraft to establish attitude.

Forgetting the location of selected reference points.

Too tight a grip on the ight controls resulting in

overcontrol and lack of feel.

Improper scanning and/or devoting insufcient time

to outside visual reference (head in the ight deck).

Fixation on the nose (pitch attitude) reference point

only.

Unnecessary or inappropriate control inputs.

Failure to make timely and measured control inputs

when deviations from straight-and-level ight are
detected.

Inadequate attention to sensory inputs in developing

feel for the aircraft.

Most WSC aircraft have a ground adjustable pitch/speed

trim system that adjusts the carriage hang point on the wing
keel that is set for the desired speed. Some WSC aircraft
have additional pitch control systems that can adjust the
trim speed in ight as described in Chapter 3, Components
and Systems.
There is no yaw trim but the roll trim is usually adjusted on
the ground for a wing that has a turn in it. Roll trim is usually
adjusted so the wing ies straight in cruise ight. This is a
balance between the full power torque of the engine wanting
to turn it in one direction and minimum power when the WSC
aircraft is in a glide. WSC pilots usually have to exert some
pilot roll input for high power engines at full power climb to
y straight because of the engine turning effect.

Level Turns
A turn is made by banking the wings in the direction of
the desired turn. A specic angle of bank is selected by the
pilot, control pressures are applied to achieve the desired
bank angle, and appropriate control pressures are exerted to
maintain the desired bank angle once it is established.

Trim Control
The use of trim systems relieves the pilot of the requirement to
exert pressures for the desired ight condition. An improperly
trimmed aircraft requires constant control pressures, produces
pilot tension and fatigue, distracts the pilot from scanning,
and contributes to abrupt and erratic aircraft control.

6-7

Banking is performed with the following steps

[Figure 6-9]:

Entering a Turn

The throttle provides additional thrust used to maintain

the WSC in level ight.

Pitch control moves the nose of the WSC aircraft up

or down in relation to the pilot and perpendicular to
the wings. Doing this sets the proper pitch attitude and
speed in the turn.

A. Straight ight
B. Pilot applies sideways pressure to the control bar
shifting the weight towards the direction of the desired
turn initiating the bank.

Turns are classified to determine the bank angle as

follows:

C. Turn is established and maintained by moving the

control bar back to the center position.

Exiting a Turn
D. Pilot is maintaining stabilized bank and a resultant
turn.
E. Pilot shifts weight to opposite side to initiate exit out
of the turn.

Shallow turns are those in which the bank is less than

approximately 20.

Medium turns are those resulting from a degree of

bank that is approximately 20 to 45.

Steep turns are those resulting from a degree of bank

that is 45 or more.

Changing the direction of the wings lift toward one side or

the other causes the aircraft to be pulled in that direction.

F. Straight ight is established and maintained by moving

the control bar back to the center position.

When an aircraft is flying straight and level, the total

lift is acting perpendicular to the wings and to the Earth.
[Figure 6-10] As the WSC is banked into a turn, the lift
then becomes the resultant of two components. One, the
vertical lift component, continues to act perpendicular to
the Earth and opposes gravity. Second, the horizontal lift
component (centripetal) acts parallel to the Earths surface

Coordinating the Controls

Flight controls are used in close coordination when making
level turns. Their functions are:

The WSC is banked with side to side pressure with the

control bar and the bank angle established determines
the rate of turn at any given airspeed.

Entering
Entering
Aa
Turn
Turn

Exiting a Turn

Figure 6-9. Roll control into and out of turns.

6-8

For higher banked turns, the entry speed should be well

above 1.3 times the stall speed, which increases signicantly
in higher banked turns. As an example, at least 1.5 times the
stall speed should be the entry speed for a 40 degree banked
turn to maintain the 1.3 times the stall speed safety margin.
Wings with a trim speed of 1.3 times the stall speed require
an increase in speed slightly. In all constant altitude, constant
airspeed turns, it is necessary to increase the angle of attack
of the wing when rolling into the turn by pushing out on
the control bar. This is required because part of the vertical
lift has been diverted to horizontal lift. Thus, the total lift
must be increased to compensate for this loss. Similarly, the
throttle must be increased to maintain the same altitude in
steeper banks.

During the turn, roll, pitch, and throttle controls are adjusted
to maintain the desired bank angle, speed, and level altitude.
Coordinated ight is the coordination of the three controls
to achieve a smooth turn to the desired bank angle while
maintaining a constant speed and altitude.
The roll-out from a turn is similar to the roll-in, except ight
controls are applied in the opposite direction. As the angle
of bank decreases, the pitch pressure should be relaxed as
necessary to maintain speed and the throttle decreased to
maintain altitude.
Since the aircraft continues turning as long as there is any
bank, the rollout must be started before reaching the desired
heading. The amount of lead required to roll-out of the
desired heading depends on the degree of bank used in the
turn. Normally, the lead is one-half the degrees of bank.
For example, if the bank is 30, lead the rollout by 15. As
the wings become level, the control pressures should be
smoothly relaxed so that the controls are neutralized as the
aircraft returns to straight-and-level ight. As the rollout is
being completed, attention should be given to outside visual
references to determine that the wings are being leveled and
the turn stopped.

Vertical component

Lift

lL
ift

Shallow turns are accomplished by moving the control bar

to the side slightly, waiting for the wing to roll the desired
amount, and then releasing the side pressure on the control bar
back to the center position. The WSC aircraft will stabilize in
the turn with no control pressures required. During a shallow
turn there is no signicant increase in airspeed or G forces
that can easily be noticed by the student. [Figure 6-11] Once
a shallow turn is initiated, it is a good practice to be stabilized
at a constant bank and then exit to a predetermined heading.
To exit the shallow turn, opposite sideways pressure must
be put on the control bar to bring the WSC aircraft back to
level ight.

The additional load or G force in a medium banked turn is felt

as the pilot is pushed down on the seat with enough force for
this effect to be noticed. After the bank has been established
in a medium turn, all side-to-side roll pressure applied may
be relaxed, but forward pressure to maintain a higher angle of
attack is still necessary in a steeper bank. The WSC aircraft
remains at the selected bank with no further tendency to roll
back to level since all the forces are equalized.

To
ta

and opposes inertia (apparent centrifugal force). These two

lift components act at right angles to each other causing the
resultant total lifting force to act perpendicular to the banked
wing of the aircraft. It is the horizontal lift component that
actually turns the WSC aircraft. [Figure 6-10]

Horizontal component

ta
nt
ul
R
es

Weight

Weight

Lo
ad

Centrifugal force

Figure 6-10. WSC aircraft flying straight (left) and turning with the same lift and weight (right).

6-9

Figure 6-11. Pilots view of a shallow turn with a 20 bank.

To understand the relationship between airspeed, bank, and

radius of turn, it should be noted that the rate of turn at any
given true airspeed depends on the horizontal lift component.
The horizontal lift component varies in proportion to the
amount of bank. Therefore, the rate of turn at a given true
airspeed increases as the angle of bank is increased. On the
other hand, when a turn is made at a higher true airspeed at a
given bank angle, the inertia is greater and the horizontal lift
component required for the turn is greater causing the turning
rate to become slower. Therefore, at a given angle of bank, a
higher true airspeed makes the radius of turn larger because
the aircraft is turning at a slower rate. [Figure 6-12]
When changing from a shallow bank to a medium bank, the
airspeed of the wing on the outside of the turn increases in
relation to the inside wing as the radius of turn decreases. The
additional lift developed because of this increase in speed of
the wing balances the inherent lateral stability of the aircraft.
At any given airspeed, roll pressure is not required to maintain
the bank. If the bank is allowed to increase from a medium
to a steep bank, the radius of turn decreases further.
A steep bank is similar to a medium bank but all factors
increase. Roll and pitch control pressures must increase,
throttle must increase further to maintain altitude, and the
G forces increase signicantly. Students should build up
to steep banked turns gradually after perfecting shallow

6-10

and medium banked turns. Do not exceed the bank angle

limitation in the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH).
The pilots posture while seated in the aircraft is very
important, particularly during turns. It affects the interpretation
of outside visual references. Pilots should not lean away from
the turn in an attempt to remain upright in relation to the
ground rather than ride with the aircraft. This should be a
habit developed early so that the pilot can properly learn to
use visual references.
Beginning students should not use large control applications
because this produces a rapid roll rate and allows little time
for corrections before the desired bank is reached. Slower
(small control displacement) roll rates provide more time to
make necessary pitch and bank corrections. As soon as the
aircraft rolls from the wings-level attitude, the nose should
also start to move along the horizon, increasing its rate of
travel proportionately as the bank is increased.
The following variations provide excellent guides. If the
nose moves up or down when entering a bank, excessive or
insufcient pitch control is being applied. During all turns,
the controls are used to correct minor variations as they are
in straight-and-level ight.

Constant Airspeed

10 angle of bank
When airspeed is held constant,
a larger angle of bank will result
in a smaller turn radius and a
greater turn rate.

20 angle of bank

30 angle of bank

Constant Angle of Bank

60 knots
When angle of bank is held
constant, a lower airspeed will
result in a smaller turn radius
and greater turn rate.

50 knots

40 knots

Figure 6-12. Angle of airspeed and bank regulate rate and radius of turn.

6-11

Instruction in level turns should begin with changing attitude

from level to bank, bank to level, and so on with a slight pause
at the termination of each phase. This pause allows the WSC
to free itself from the effects of any misuse of the controls
and ensures a correct start for the next turn. During these
exercises, the idea of control forces, rather than movement,
should be emphasized by pointing out the resistance of the
controls to varying forces applied to them.
Common errors in the performance of level turns are:

Failure to adequately clear the area before beginning

the turn.

Attempting to sit up straight, in relation to the ground,

during a turn, rather than riding with the aircraft.

Failure to maintain a constant bank angle during the

turn.

Gaining prociency in turns in only one direction.

Failure to coordinate the angle of attack to maintain

the proper airspeed.

Failure to coordinate the use of throttle to maintain

level ight.

Altitude gain/loss during the turn.

Climbs and Climbing Turns

When an aircraft enters a climb, it changes its ightpath
from level ight to an inclined plane or climb attitude. As
discussed in chapter 2, weight in a climb no longer acts in a
direction perpendicular to the ightpath. It acts in a rearward

direction. This causes an increase in total drag requiring an

increase in thrust (power) to balance the forces. An aircraft
can only sustain a climb angle when there is sufcient thrust
to offset increased drag; therefore, climb is limited by the
thrust available. [Figure 6-13]
Like other maneuvers, climbs should be performed using
outside visual references and flight instruments. It is
important that the pilot know the engine power settings
and pitch attitudes that produce the following conditions
of climb:

Normal climbperformed at an airspeed recommended

by the aircraft manufacturer. Normal climb speed is
generally the WSC best rate of climb (VY) speed as
discussed below. Faster airspeeds should be used for
climbing in turbulent air.

Best rate of climb (VY)the airspeed at which an

aircraft will gain the greatest amount of altitude in a
given unit of time (maximum rate of climb in feet per
minute (fpm)). The VY made at full allowable power
is a maximum climb. This is the most efcient speed
because it has the best lift over drag ratio for the
aircraft. This speed is also the best glide ratio speed
used for going the greatest distance for the amount
of altitude, as discussed later in this chapter. Each
aircraft manufacturer is different but a good rule of
thumb is that the VY is 1.3 times the stall speed. It
must be fully understood that attempts to obtain more
climb performance than the aircraft is capable of by
increasing pitch attitude results in a decrease in the

Descending

Ascending

Dec

lined
Plan
Flig
e
ht P
ath

lane
ed P
Inclin
h
t Pat
Fligh

Figure 6-13. When a WSC aircraft stabilizes in a descent or a climb, the flightpath is a declined or inclined plane.

6-12

rate of altitude gain. Trim is usually set at the VY or

higher.

Best angle of climb (VX)performed at an airspeed

that will produce the most altitude gain in a given
horizontal distance. Best VX airspeed is lower than VY
but higher than minimum controlled airspeed. The VX
results in a steeper climb path, although the aircraft
takes longer to reach the same altitude than it would
at VY. The VX, therefore, is used in clearing obstacles
after takeoff. Since the VX is closer to the stall speed,
caution should be exercised using this speed to
climb so as not to stall the WSC aircraft close to the
ground with potentially catastrophic consequences.
[Figure 6-14]

Climbing flight requires more power than flying level,

as described in chapter 2. When performing a climb, the
normal climb speed should be established and the power
should be advanced to the climb power recommended by the
manufacturer. As the aircraft gains altitude during a climb,
the engine has a loss in power because the same volume of
air entering the engines induction system gradually decreases
in density as altitude increases.
During a climb, a constant heading should be held with
the wings level if a straight climb is being performed, or
a constant angle of bank and rate of turn if a climbing turn
is being performed. To return to straight-and-level ight,
when approaching the target altitude, increase the speed
to the cruise setting (if different) and decrease throttle for
level ight. After the aircraft is established in level ight at
a constant altitude and the desired speed, the aircraft should
be trimmed (if equipped with an in ight trim system).

Best angle-of-climb airspeed (VX)

gives the greatest altitude gain
in the shortest horizontal distance.

In the performance of climbing turns, the following factors

should be considered.

With a constant power setting, the same pitch attitude

and airspeed cannot be maintained in a bank as in
a straight climb due to the increase in the total lift
required.

The degree of bank should not be too steep. A steep

bank signicantly decreases the rate of climb. The
bank should always remain constant.

At a constant power setting and turning while climbing,

the WSC aircraft climbs at a slightly shallower climb
angle because some of the lift is being used to turn.

Attention should be looking at outside references and

scanning for trafc with no more than 25 percent of
the time looking at inside ight deck instruments.

There are two ways to establish a climbing turn. Either

establish a straight climb and then turn, or enter the climb
and turn simultaneously. Climbing turns should be used
when climbing to the local practice area. Climbing turns
allow better visual scanning, and it is easier for other pilots
to see a turning aircraft.
In any turn, the loss of vertical lift and increased induced
drag due to increased angle of attack becomes greater as the
angle of bank is increased. So, shallow turns should be used
to maintain an efcient rate of climb. All the factors that
affect the aircraft during level (constant altitude) turns affect
it during climbing turns or any other maneuver.

Best rate-of-climb airspeed (Vy)

gives the greatest altitude gain in
a given unit of time.

25
Figure 6-14. Best angle of climb (VX) versus best rate of climb (VY).

6-13

Common errors in the performance of climbs and climbing

turns are:

A bank angle too high to achieve an efcient climb.

A speed too high to achieve an efcient climb rate.

A speed that is too low.

Attempting to exceed the aircrafts climb capability.

Inability to keep pitch and bank attitude constant

during climbing turns.

Attempting to establish climb pitch attitude by

referencing the airspeed indicator, resulting in
chasing the airspeed.

Descent at minimum safe airspeeda nose-high

descent. This should only be used for unusual
situations such as clearing high obstacles for a short
runway in an emergency situation. The only advantage
is a steeper than normal descent angle. This is similar
to the best angle of climb speed and should only be
used with caution because stalling near the ground
could have catastrophic consequences for the pilot,
passenger, and people/property on the ground.

Glidea basic maneuver in which the aircraft loses

altitude in a controlled descent with little or no engine
power; forward motion is maintained by gravity
pulling the aircraft along an inclined path, and the
descent rate is controlled by the pilot balancing the
forces of gravity and lift. [Figure 6-15]

Descents and Descending Turns

When an aircraft enters a descent, it changes its ightpath
from level to an inclined plane. It is important that the pilot
know the power settings and pitch attitudes that produce the
following conditions of descent.

Partial power descentthe normal method of losing

altitude is to descend with partial power. This is often
termed cruise or en route descent. The airspeed
and power setting recommended by the aircraft
manufacturer for prolonged descent should be used.
The target descent rate should be 400500 fpm.

Steep approachthe normal maneuver used to

descend at a steep angle. This is typically used to
descend for landing if higher than expected upon
approaching the runway. The throttle is set to idle
and the airspeed is increased so the excessive drag
allows the WSC aircraft to descend at the steepest
angle. The control bar is pulled in to achieve this steep
approachthe further the bar is pulled in, the steeper
the descent rate. Each WSC aircraft is different, but
pulling the control bar to the chest may be necessary
to achieve the required angle.

Des

cen

Ste

ep

t at

Ap

pro

Min

imu

ach

25
Figure 6-15. Descent speeds and glide angles.

6-14

mS

afe

Although glides are directly related to the practice of poweroff accuracy landings, they have a specic operational purpose
in normal landing approaches and forced landings after engine
failure. Therefore, it is necessary that they be performed more
subconsciously than other maneuvers because most of the
time during their execution, the pilot gives full attention to
details other than the mechanics of performing the maneuver.
Since glides are usually performed relatively close to the
ground, accuracy of their execution, the formation of proper
technique, and habits are of special importance.
The glide ratio of a WSC aircraft is the distance the aircraft,
with power off, travels forward in relation to the altitude
it loses. For instance, if it travels 5,000 feet forward while
descending 1,000 feet, its glide ratio is said to be 5 to 1.
The glide ratio is affected by all four fundamental forces that
act on an aircraft (weight, lift, drag, and thrust). If all factors
affecting the aircraft are constant, the glide ratio is constant.

Airs

pee

Best

Glide

Partial

Power

Desce

nt

Variations in weight for an aircraft with a rigid wing

do not affect the glide angle provided the pilot uses the
correct airspeed. Since it is the lift over drag (LD) ratio that
determines the distance the aircraft can glide, weight does
not affect the distance. The glide ratio is based only on the
relationship of the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft.
The only effect weight has is to vary the time the aircraft
glides. The heavier the aircraft, the higher the airspeed must
be to obtain the same glide ratio. For example, if two aircraft
having the same LD ratio but different weights start a glide
from the same altitude, the heavier aircraft gliding at a higher
airspeed arrives at the same touchdown point in a shorter
time. Both aircraft cover the same distance, only the lighter
aircraft takes a longer time.
However, the WSC aircraft has different characteristics
because it has a exible airframe. As more weight is added
to the WSC wing, it exes more creating more twist in the
wing decreasing aerodynamic efciency, as discussed in
chapter 2. For example, a pilot is accustomed to a glide ratio
of 5 to 1 ying solo; a passenger is added, and this glide ratio
may decrease to 4 to 1. This decrease in glide ratio for added
weight is true for all descent speeds. The amount of decrease
in glide ratio varies signicantly between manufactures and
models because each wing exes differently. The more
exible the wing is, the greater the decrease in glide ratio.
Pilots should become familiar with glide ratios for their
aircraft at all speeds and all weights.
Although the propeller thrust of the aircraft is normally
dependent on the power output of the engine, the throttle is
in the closed position during a glide so the thrust is constant.
Since power is not used during a glide or power-off approach,
the pitch attitude must be adjusted as necessary to maintain
a constant airspeed.
The best speed for the glide is one at which the aircraft travels
the greatest forward distance for a given loss of altitude in still
air. This best glide speed corresponds to an angle of attack
resulting in the least drag on the aircraft and giving the best
lift-to-drag ratio (LDMAX). [Figure 6-16]

LD-MAX
Increasing Lift-to-Drag Ratio

Although the effect of wind is not covered in this section, it

is a very prominent force acting on the gliding distance of the
aircraft in relationship to its movement over the ground. With
a tailwind, the aircraft glides farther because of the higher
groundspeed. Conversely, with a headwind the aircraft does
not glide as far because of the slower groundspeed.

Stall
VNE
Increasing Speed

Figure 6-16.

LDMAX.

Any change in the gliding airspeed results in a proportionate

change in glide ratio. Any speed, other than the best glide
speed, results in more drag. Therefore, as the glide airspeed
is reduced or increased from the optimum or best glide speed,
the glide ratio is also changed. When descending at a speed
below the best glide speed, induced drag increases. When
descending at a speed above best glide speed, parasite drag
increases. In either case, the rate of descent increases and the
glide ratio decreases.
This leads to a cardinal rule of aircraft ying that a student
pilot must understand and appreciate: the pilot must never
attempt to stretch a glide by applying nose up pressure and
reducing the airspeed below the aircrafts recommended best
glide speed. Attempts to stretch a glide invariably result in an
increase in the rate and angle of descent and may precipitate
an inadvertent stall.
To enter a glide, the pilot should close the throttle and
obtain the best glide speed. When the approximate gliding
pitch attitude is established, the airspeed indicator should
be checked. If the airspeed is higher than the recommended
speed, the pitch attitude is too low; if the airspeed is less than
recommended, the pitch attitude is too high. Therefore, the
pitch attitude should be readjusted accordingly by referencing
the horizon. After the adjustment has been made, the aircraft
should be retrimmed (if equipped) so that it maintains this
attitude without the need to hold pitch pressure on the control
bar. The principles of attitude ying require that the proper
ight attitude be established using outside visual references
rst, then using the ight instruments as a secondary check.
It is a good practice to always retrim the aircraft after each
pitch adjustment.

6-15

A stabilized power-off descent at the best glide speed is

often referred to as a normal glide. The ight instructor
should demonstrate a normal glide, and direct the student
pilot to memorize the aircrafts angle and speed by visually
checking the:

the reference point on the front tube provide visual reference

of attitudes while gliding. [Figures 6-17 and 6-18]
Common errors in the performance of descents and
descending turns are:

1.

Aircrafts attitude with reference to the horizon.

Failure to adequately clear the area.

2.

Noting the pitch of the sound made by the air.

3.

Pressure on the controls, and the feel of the aircraft.

Inability to sense changes in airspeed through sound

and feel.

Failure to maintain constant bank angle during gliding

turns.

Inadequate nose-up control during glide entry resulting

in too steep a glide.

Attempting to establish/maintain a normal glide solely

by reference to ight instruments.

Attempting to stretch the glide by applying nose-up

pressure.

Inadequate pitch control during recovery from straight

glides.

Due to lack of experience, the beginning student may be

unable to recognize slight variations of speed and angle of
bank immediately by vision or by the pressure required on
the controls. The student pilot must use all three elements
consciously until they become habits, and must be alert when
attention is diverted from the attitude of the aircraft. A student
must be responsive to any warning given by a variation in
the feel of the aircraft or controls or by a change in the pitch
of the sound.
After a good comprehension of the normal glide is attained,
the student pilot should be instructed of the differences in
the results of normal and abnormal glides. Abnormal glides
are those conducted at speeds other than the normal best
glide speed. Pilots who do not acquire an understanding and
appreciation of these differences experience difculties with
accuracy landings which are comparatively simple if the
fundamentals of the glide are thoroughly understood.
Gliding Turns
Gliding turns have a signicant increase in descent rate than
straight glides because of the decrease in effective lift due to
the direction of the lifting force being at an angle to the pull
of gravity. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the
steeper the bank angle, the greater the descent rate.
In gliding turns, the decrease in effective lift due to the
direction of the lifting force being at an angle to the pull
of gravity make it necessary to use more nose-up pressure
than is required for a straight glide. However, as discussed
earlier for steeper turns, airspeed must be maintained well
above stall speed which increases during turns or the WSC
could stall in the turn.
When recovery is being made from a medium or high banked
gliding turn, the pitch force which was applied during the turn
must be decreased back to trim, which must be coordinated
with the roll back to level.
In order to maintain the most efcient or normal glide in a
turn, more altitude must be sacriced than in a straight glide
since this is the only way speed can be maintained without
power. Attention to the front tube angle with the horizon and
6-16

Pitch and Power

No discussion of climbs and descents would be complete
without touching on the question of what controls altitude
and what controls airspeed. The pilot must understand the
effects of both power and pitch control, working together,
during different conditions of ight.
As a general rule, power is used to determine vertical speed
and pitch control is used to determine speed. However,
there are many variations and combinations to this general
statement. Decreasing pitch and diving do provide a quicker
descent but is not typically used as a ight technique for long
descents. Changes in pitch through moving the control bar
forward and backward are used for maintaining level ight
in rising and falling air, and pulling back on the control bar is
used for a steep approach technique to lose altitude; however,
these techniques are used only for short durations and not
the primary altitude control for the WSC.
The throttle is the main control used for determining vertical
speed. At normal pitch attitudes recommended by the
manufacturer and a constant airspeed, the amount of power
used determines whether the aircraft climbs, descends, or
remains level at that attitude.

Steep Turn Performance Maneuver

The objective of the steep turn performance maneuver is to
develop the smoothness, coordination, orientation, division of
attention, and control techniques necessary for the execution
of maximum performance turns when the aircraft is near its

Figure 6-17. Pilots visual reference of pitch and rolldescending in a shallow bank.

Figure 6-18. Pilots visual reference of pitch and rollcontinuing the shallow bank turn but raising the nose slightly with power application.
Notice the how the front tube has moved across the horizon and the nose has raised slightly with additional power application to level
flight.

6-17

performance limits. Smoothness of control use, coordination,

and accuracy of execution are the important features of this
maneuver.
The steep turn maneuver consists of a level turn in either
direction using a bank angle between 45 to 60. This causes
an overbanking tendency during which maximum turning
performance is attained and relatively high load factors are
imposed. Because of the high load factors imposed, these
turns should be performed at an airspeed that does not exceed
the aircrafts design maneuvering speed (VA). The principles
of an ordinary steep turn apply, but as a practice maneuver
the steep turns should be continued until 360 or 720 of turn
have been completed. [Figure 6-19]
An aircrafts maximum turning performance is its fastest
rate of turn and its shortest radius of turn, which change
with both airspeed and angle of bank. Each aircrafts turning
performance is limited by the amount of power its engine is
developing, its limit load factor (structural strength), and its
aerodynamic characteristics. Do not exceed the maximum
bank angle limitation in the POH. For example, a maximum
60 bank angle is a limit used by many manufacturers.
The pilot should realize the tremendous additional load that
is imposed on an aircraft as the bank is increased beyond
45. During a coordinated turn with a 60 bank, a load factor
of approximately 2 Gs is placed on the aircrafts structure.

Figure 6-19. Steep turns.

6-18

Regardless of the airspeed or the type of aircraft involved,

a given angle of bank in a turn during which altitude is
maintained always produces the same load factor. Pilots must
be aware that an additional load factor increases the stalling
speed at a signicant ratestalling speed increases with the
square root of the load factor. For example, a light aircraft that
stalls at 40 knots in level ight stalls at nearly 57 knots in a
60 bank. The pilots understanding and observance of this
fact is an indispensable safety precaution for the performance
of all maneuvers requiring turns.
Before starting the steep turn, the pilot should ensure that the
area is clear of other air trafc since the rate of turn is quite
rapid. After establishing the manufacturers recommended
entry speed or the design maneuvering speed, the aircraft
should be smoothly rolled into a selected bank angle between
45 to 60 and the throttle increased to maintain level ight.
Always perfect the steep turn at 45 and slowly work up to
higher bank angles. As the turn is being established, control
bar forward pressure should be smoothly increased to
increase the angle of attack. This provides the additional wing
lift required to compensate for the increasing load factor.
After the selected bank angle has been reached, the pilot
nds that considerable force is required on the control bar
and increased throttle is required to hold the aircraft in level
ightto maintain altitude. Because of this increase in the
force applied to the control bar, the load factor increases

rapidly as the bank is increased. Additional control bar

forward pressure increases the angle of attack, which results
in an increase in drag. Consequently, power must be added
to maintain the entry altitude and airspeed.
During the turn, the pilot should not stare at any one object.
Maintaining altitude, as well as orientation, requires an
awareness of the relative position of the forward tube and
the horizon. The pilot must also be looking for other aircraft
mainly towards the direction of the turn while glancing at the
instruments to make sure the airspeed and altitude are being
maintained. If the altitude begins to increase or decrease a
power adjustment may be necessary to maintain the altitude
if the bank angle and speed are maintained. All bank angle
changes should be done with coordinated use of pitch and
throttle control.
The rollout from the turn should be timed so that the wings
reach level ight when the aircraft is exactly on the heading
from which the maneuver was started. While the recovery
is being made, forward bar pressure is gradually released
and power reduced, as necessary, to maintain the altitude
and airspeed.
Common errors in the performance of steep turns are:

Failure to adequately clear the area.

Excessive pitch change during entry or recovery.

Attempts to start recovery prematurely.

Failure to stop the turn on a precise heading.

Inadequate power management resulting in gaining

or loosing altitude.

Inadequate airspeed control.

Poor roll/pitch/power coordination.

Failure to maintain constant bank angle.

Failure to scan for other trafc before and during the

maneuver.

Energy Management
The WSC aircraft has very little momentum because of its
relative light weight as compared to airplanes. Therefore, it
is important that pilots learn to manage the kinetic energy of
the WSC. Higher speed and higher power is higher energy.
Lower speed and lower power is lower energy. The ability
for a pilot to maintain high energy levels in turbulent air and
while near the ground is the basis for energy management
for WSC.

Energy management should rst be practiced at higher

altitudes. While maintaining straight-and-level flight,
power is increased and decreased, and pitch control must
be used. The pilot should start at the trim position and with
the appropriate cruise throttle setting. As power is smoothly
applied towards full throttle, the WSC aircraft pitch attitude
attempts to increase. The pilot should decrease the pitch to
maintain level ight. This results in a high energy level.
Once this application is held for a couple seconds, the pilot
should then smoothly reduce power to the cruise power
setting and increase pitch to maintain level ight. The WSC
aircraft is now back to at a lower trim/cruise power in a
medium energy level.
Again, increase power and reduce pitch to stay level attaining
a high energy level. Now, reduce power to idle and as the
nose lowers, increase pitch. The pilot must be aware of the
decreasing energy levels occurring during this phase of the
maneuver for this is usually a precursor to accidents when
approaching the runway. The pilot should recognize this
scenario and promptly apply the power as appropriate to
prevent the aircraft from descending. Additionally, the pilot
must be aware of the slow ight and stall characteristics to
prevent a stall and to maintain a specied heading.
Once the student masters this maneuver successfully at
higher altitudes, energy management can be practiced with
low passes down the runway in calm winds at higher energy
levels, then at the lower trim/cruise power medium energy
level, and nally higher to medium trim/cruise power energy
levels. Low passes over the runway ne tunes the students
skills for energy management and is an excellent exercise to
prepare students for landings.
It is important to understand that higher energy levels should
be used while maneuvering near the ground especially
in turbulent or crosswind conditions. This is discussed in
Chapter 7, Takeoff and Departure Climbs, that higher energy
is recommended as the WSC aircraft lifts off and initially
climbs out from the runway.
Higher energy is also recommended for a power on approach
where the airspeed is higher than the normal approach
speed; and the power is higher than the normal approach
power. There is still a descent rate, but the WSC aircraft has
more overall energy to handle turbulence and crosswinds.
[Figure 6-20]

6-19

Low Kinetic Energy

High Kinetic Energy

Relative Wind

Relative Wind

Flightpath

Flightpath

Low Speed Low Power

Fast Speed Higher Power

Figure 6-20. Energy management: low and high kinetic energy for level flight.

Slow Flight and Stalls

As discussed in chapter 2, the maintenance of lift and control
of an aircraft in slow ight requires a certain minimum
airspeed and angle of attack. This critical airspeed depends
on certain factors, such as gross weight, load factors, and
density altitude. The minimum speed below which further
controlled ight is impossible is called the stalling speed.
An important feature of pilot training is the development
of the ability to estimate and feel the margin of speed
above the stalling speed. Also, the ability to determine the
characteristic responses of the aircraft at different airspeeds
is of great importance to the pilot. The student pilot,
therefore, must develop this awareness in order to safely
avoid stalls and to operate an aircraft correctly and safely
at slow airspeeds.
As discussed in chapter 2, the nose stalls while the tips keep
ying. Therefore, the denition of stall speed of the WSC
aircraft is the speed at which the nose starts stalling. The
control bar is pushed forward and buffeting is felt on the
control bar as the root reaches the critical angle of attack.
Separation of the laminar airow occurs, creating turbulence
that can be felt in the control bar. There is a loss of positive
roll control as the nose buffets and lowers as it loses lift.
Slow Flight
The objective of maneuvering during slow flight is to
develop the pilots sense of feel and ability to use the
controls correctly and to improve prociency in performing
maneuvers that require slow airspeeds.
Slow ight is broken down into two distinct speeds:
1.

VX and the short eld descent speed that was discussed

earlier, and,

2.

Minimum controlled airspeed, the slowest airspeed at

which the aircraft is capable of maintaining controlled
ight without indications of a stallusually 2 to 3
knots above stalling speed as discussed below.

6-20

The minimum controlled airspeed maneuver demonstrates

the ight characteristics and degree of controllability of the
aircraft at its minimum ying speed. By denition, the term
ight at minimum controllable airspeed means a speed at
which any further increase in angle of attack or load factor
causes an immediate stall. Instruction in ight at minimum
controllable airspeed should be introduced at reduced power
settings with the airspeed sufciently above the stall to
permit maneuvering, but close enough to the stall to sense the
characteristics of ight at very low airspeedsloppy control,
ragged response to control inputs, difculty maintaining
altitude, etc. Maneuvering at minimum controllable airspeed
should be performed using both instrument indications and
outside visual reference. It is important that pilots form the
habit of frequent reference to the ight instruments, especially
the airspeed indicator, while ying at very low airspeeds.
However, the goal is to develop a feel for the aircraft at
very low airspeeds to avoid inadvertent stalls and to operate
the aircraft with precision.
The objective of performing the minimum controlled airspeed
is to y straight and level and make shallow level turns at
minimum controlled airspeed. To begin a minimum controlled
airspeed maneuver, the WSC is own at trim speed straight and
level to maintain a constant altitude. The nose is then raised as
the throttle is reduced to maintain a constant altitude.
As the speed decreases further, the pilot should note the
feel of the ight controls, pitch pressure, and difculty of
maintaining a straight heading with the increased side-to-side
pilot input forces required to keep the wings level. At some
point the throttle must be increased to remain level after the
WSC has slowed below its maximum LD speed. The pilot
should also note the sound of the airow as it falls off in tone.
There is a large difference by manufacturer and model, but
the bar generally should not be touching the forward tube
at minimum controlled airspeed. For example, the control
bar would be 1 to 3 inches from the front tube at minimum
controlled airspeed. [Figure 6-21]

Trim flight

Control bar is moved forward,

slowing the WSC

Normal straight-andlevel flight

Power is decreased slightly

as the nose is raised to slow
to minimum controlled
airspeed

Minimum controlled airspeed

Power applied for straight-andlevel flight at minimum

controlled airspeed

Shallow turns are performed

in level flight at minimum
controlled airspeed

Figure 6-21. Minimum controlled airspeed maneuver.

The pilot should understand that when ying below the

minimum drag speed (L/DMAX), the aircraft exhibits a
characteristic known as speed instability. If the aircraft
is disturbed by even the slightest turbulence, the airspeed
decreases. As airspeed decreases, the total drag increases
resulting in a further loss in airspeed. Unless more power is
applied and/or the nose is lowered, the speed continues to
decay to a stall. This is an extremely important factor in the
performance of slow ight. The pilot must understand that, at
speeds less than minimum drag speed, the airspeed is unstable
and will continue to decay if allowed to do so.
It should also be noted that the amount of power to remain
level at minimum controlled airspeed is greater than that
required at the minimum drag speed which is also the best
glide ratio speed and the best rate of climb speed.
When the attitude, airspeed, and power have been stabilized
in straight-and-level ight, turns should be practiced to
determine the aircrafts controllability characteristics at
this minimum speed. During the turns, power and pitch
attitude may need to be increased to maintain the airspeed
and altitude. The objective is to acquaint the pilot with the
lack of maneuverability at minimum controlled airspeed, the
danger of incipient stalls, and the tendency of the aircraft
to stall as the bank is increased. A stall may also occur as a
result of turbulence, or abrupt or rough control movements
when ying at this critical airspeed.
Once ight at minimum controllable airspeed is set up
properly for level ight, a descent or climb at minimum
controllable airspeed can be established by adjusting the
power as necessary to establish the desired rate of descent
or climb.
Common errors in the performance of slow ight are:

Inadequate forward pressure as power is reduced,

resulting in altitude loss.

Excessive forward pressure as power is reduced,

resulting in a climb, followed by a rapid reduction in
airspeed and mushing.

Inadequate compensation for unanticipated roll during

turns.

Fixation on the airspeed indicator.

Inadequate power management.

Inability to adequately divide attention between

aircraft control and orientation.

Stalls
A stall occurs when the smooth airow over the aircrafts
wing root is disrupted and the lift degenerates rapidly. This
is caused when the wing root exceeds its critical angle of
attack. This can occur at any airspeed in any attitude with
any power setting.
The practice of stall recovery and the development of
awareness of stalls are of primary importance in pilot
training. The objectives in performing intentional stalls are to
familiarize the pilot with the conditions that produce stalls, to
assist in recognizing an approaching stall, and to develop the
habit of taking prompt preventive or corrective action.
Pilots must recognize the ight conditions that are conducive
to stalls and know how to apply the necessary corrective
action. They should learn to recognize an approaching stall
by sight, sound, and feel. The following cues may be useful
in recognizing the approaching stall:

Positioning the control bar toward the front tube

Detecting a stall condition by visually noting the

attitude of the aircraft for the power setting

Failure to adequately clear the area.

6-21

Hearing the wind decrease on the structure and

pilot

Feeling the wind decrease against the pilot

Sensing changes in direction or speed of motion,

or kinesthesiaprobably the most important and
best indicator to the trained and experienced pilot.
If this sensitivity is properly developed, it warns of
a decrease in speed or the beginning of a settling or
mushing of the aircraft.

During the practice of intentional stalls, the real objective

is not to learn how to stall an aircraft, but to learn how to
recognize an approaching stall and take prompt corrective
action. Though the recovery actions must be taken in a
coordinated manner, they are broken down into the following
three actions for explanation purposes.
First, at the indication of a stall, the pitch attitude and angle
of attack must be decreased positively and immediately.
Since the basic cause of a stall is always an excessive angle
of attack, the cause must rst be eliminated by releasing the
control bar forward pressure that was necessary to attain that
angle of attack or by moving the control bar backwards. This
lowers the nose and returns the wing to an effective angle
of attack.
The amount of movement used depends on the design of
the wing, the severity of the stall, and the proximity of the
ground. In some WSC aircraft, the bar can be left out and
as the nose stalls, the wing lowers to an angle of attack and
keeps ying since the tips do not stall. However, even though
WSC aircraft generally have gentle stall characteristics,
higher performance wings may not be as forgiving. Therefore
during a stall, the control bar should be moved back to reduce
the angle of attack and properly recover from the stall. The
object for all WSC aircraft is to reduce the angle of attack
but only enough to allow the wing to regain lift as quickly as
possible and obtain the appropriate airspeed for the situation
with the minimum loss in altitude.
Power application in a stall is different than an airplane. Since
power application in a WSC aircraft produces a nose-up
moment after a stall has occurred and the pitch has decreased
from the control bar movement, power should be applied.
The ight instructor should emphasize, however, that power
is not essential for a safe stall recovery if sufcient altitude
is available. Reducing the angle of attack is the only way of
recovering from a stall regardless of the amount of power
used. Stall recoveries should be practiced with and without
the use of power. Usually, the greater the power applied
during the stall recovery, the less the loss of altitude.

6-22

Third, straight-and-level ight should be regained with

coordinated use of all controls. Practice of power-on stalls
should be avoided due to potential danger of whipstalls, tucks,
and tumbles, as detailed later in ths chapter.
Power-off (at idle) turning stalls are practiced to show
what could happen if the controls are improperly used
during a turn from the base leg to the nal approach. The
power-off straight-ahead stall simulates the attitude and
ight characteristics of a particular aircraft during the nal
approach and landing.
Usually, the first few practices should include only
approaches to stalls with recovery initiated as soon as the
rst buffeting or partial loss of control is noted. Once the
pilot becomes comfortable with this power-off procedure,
the aircraft should use some power and be slowed in such
a manner that it stalls in as near a level pitch attitude as is
possible. The student pilot must not be allowed to form the
impression that in all circumstances a high pitch attitude is
necessary to exceed the critical angle of attack, or that in all
circumstances a level or near level pitch attitude is indicative
of a low angle of attack. Recovery should be practiced rst
without the addition of power by merely relieving enough
control bar forward pressure that the stall is broken and the
aircraft assumes a normal glide attitude. Stall recoveries
should then be practiced with the addition of power during
the recovery to determine how effective power is in executing
a safe recovery and minimizing altitude loss.
Stall accidents usually result from an inadvertent stall at a
low altitude in which a recovery was not accomplished prior
to contact with the surface. As a preventive measure, stalls
should be practiced at a minimum altitude of 1,500 feet
AGL or that which allows recovery no lower than 1,000 feet
AGL. Recovery with a minimum loss of altitude requires a
reduction in the angle of attack (lowering the aircrafts pitch
attitude), application of power, and termination of the descent
without accelerating to a high airspeed and unnecessary
altitude loss.
The factors that affect the stalling characteristics of the aircraft
are wing design, trim, bank, pitch attitude, coordination,
drag, and power. The pilot should learn the effect of the
stall characteristics of the aircraft being own. It should
be reemphasized that a stall can occur at any airspeed, in
any attitude, or at any power setting, depending on the total
number of factors affecting the particular aircraft.
Whenever practicing turning stalls, a constant pitch and
bank attitude should be maintained until the stall occurs.
In a banked stall or if the wing rolls as it stalls, side to side

control bar movement is required to level the wings as well

as pull the bar back to reduce the angle of attack.
Power-Off Stall Manuever
The practice of power-off stalls is usually performed with
normal landing approach conditions in simulation of an
accidental stall occurring during landing approaches. Aircraft
equipped with trim should be trimmed to the approach
conguration. Initially, airspeed in excess of the normal
approach speed should not be carried into a stall entry since
it could result in an abnormally nose-high attitude. Before
executing these practice stalls, the pilot must be sure the area
is clear of other air trafc.
To start the power-off stall maneuver, reduce the throttle to
idle (or normal approach power). Increase airspeed to the
normal approach speed and maintain that airspeed. When the
approach attitude and airspeed have stabilized, the aircrafts
nose should be smoothly raised to an attitude that induces a
stall. If the aircrafts attitude is raised too slowly, the WSC
aircraft may slow only to minimum controlled airspeed and
not be able to reach an angle of attack that is high enough
to stall. The position of the control bar at which the WSC
stalls can vary greatly for different manufacturers and makes/
models. Some can stall abruptly when the control bar is inches
from the front tube.
If the aircrafts attitude is raised too quickly, the pitch attitude
could rise above the manufacturers limitation. A good rule
of thumb is 3 to 4 seconds from stabilized approach speed to
pull the control bar full forward. The wings should be kept
level and a constant pitch attitude maintained until the stall
occurs. The stall is recognized by clues, such as buffeting,
increasing descent rate, and nose down pitching.

Recovering from the stall should be accomplished by

reducing the angle of attack by pulling the bar back and
accelerating only to the trim speed while simultaneously
increasing the throttle to minimize altitude loss if needed.
Once the WSC accelerated to trim speed, the control bar can
be pushed out to return back to normal trim attitude and speed.
If there is any rolling during the stall or the stall recovery
the control bar should be moved side to side to maintain a
straight heading.
It is not necessary to go into a steep dive in a WSC aircraft
to recover from a stall. This only loses more altitude than
required and should be discouraged. The nose should be
lowered as necessary to regain ying speed and returned to
a normal ight attitude as soon as possible. [Figure 6-22]
Recovery from power-off stalls should also be practiced from
shallow banked turns to simulate an inadvertent stall during
a turn from base leg to nal approach. During the practice of
these stalls, care should be taken that the turn continues at a
uniform rate until the complete stall occurs. When stalling in
a turn, it does not affect the recovery procedure. The angle of
attack is reduced and the wings leveled simultaneously with
power applied if needed for altitude control. In the practice of
turning stalls, no attempt should be made to stall the aircraft
on a predetermined heading. However, to simulate a turn
from base to nal approach, the stall normally should be
made to occur within a heading change of approximately 90.
After the stall occurs, the recovery should be made straight
ahead with minimum loss of altitude, and accomplished in
accordance with the recovery procedure discussed earlier.

When stall occurs,

reduce angle of attack

Establish normal
approach
Raise nose
maintain heading

Resume
normal flight

Increase power as
required to minimize
altitude loss

Figure 6-22. Power-off stall and recovery.

6-23

Whip Stall and Tumble Awareness

As discussed in chapter 2, the WSC aircraft does not have a
tail with a vertical stabilizer similar to an airplane, and there
is the possibility of the wing tucking and tumbling. If a WSC
tumbles, this will most likely result in a structural failure
of the WSC and serious injury or death to the pilot and/or
passenger. It is most important for the pilot to understand
tumble awareness and use all means to avoid such an
occurrence. The pilot can avoid a tuck and tumble by:

Flying within the manufacturers limitations.

Flying in conditions that are not conducive to tucks

and tumbles.

Obtaining the proper training in pitch stability for the

WSC.

Flying within the manufacturers pitch and airspeed

limitations is simply adhering to the POH/AFM limitations.
Depending on the manufacturer, this could mean no full
power stalls, not exceeding pitch limits of 40 pitch angle,
not ying below the safe ying speed in turbulence, etc.
Manufacturers limitations are provided for the specic
aircraft to avoid tucks and tumbles.
Preight preparation is the rst step to avoid the possibility
of a tuck/tumble to avoid ying in strong weather conditions.
This could be strong winds that create wind shear or strong
convective thermals that create updrafts and downdrafts. This
weather analysis is part of the preight preparation weather
analysis. The second pilot decision regarding appropriate
weather while ying is to look at the environment during
ight to understand and evaluate the situation. Weather
conditions should always be evaluated as the ight progresses
with ADM used to determine the best outcome for the
situation. This could be turning back or landing depending
on the situation.
As a student or pilot progresses, turbulence will be
encountered. Use the procedures for ying straight and level
as shown in Figure 6-8. Use this exercise as a foundation for
developing pitch control awareness to keep the wing managed
with proper control bar pitch and throttle control.
For high pitch angles, the POH may have specic procedures
that should be followed for the particular WSC aircraft,
but the following general guidelines are provided. After
reviewing the aerodynamic aspects of the tuck/tumble in
chapter 2, refer to the following tuck/tumble awareness and
avoidance procedures.
As dened in the aerodynamics section, a whip stall is a high
pitch angle when the tips stall because they exceed the critical

6-24

angle of attack. This can be the result of strong turbulence

or power-on stall, pilot induced, or any combination of
these factors. A pilot must avoid all of these factors to avoid
the possibility of a whip stall resulting in a tumble, but the
following procedures are provided for tumble avoidance
in case a whip stall or a nose rotating down below the
manufacturers limitations is encountered.
The aircraft rotates nose down. [Figure 6-23,
Whip Stall to Phase 1] Push the control bar out to the
front tube and level wings while increasing to full power
and keeping control bar full out to reduce overpitching.
[Figure 6-23, Phase 1 to Phase 2] If rotation is so severe that
it progresses to phase 4 and the WSC aircraft is tumbling, the
ballistic parachute (if so equipped) should be deployed.
There are other weather situations in which the nose is not
at a high pitch attitude, where the back of the wing can get
pushed up and enter phase 1 without an unusually high pitch
attitude or whip stall. If pitched nose low, increase to full
power while pushing the control bar full out to reduce nosedown pitching rotation. Generally, the control bar full out
and full throttle create a nose-up moment.
It takes extremely strong weather conditions and/or pilot
error to tuck/tumble a WSC aircraft. Experienced pilots y
all day in moderate turbulence, but building experience ying
in turbulence should be approached slowly and cautiously to
determine the pilot and aircraft capabilities and limitations.
A Scenario
The following is one example of a scenario that could lead to
a tuck/tumble. It is based on a viable training program in one
location but lack of experience in another location.
A student obtains his or her pilots license with the minimum
number of hours for the pilot certicate. The new pilot trained,
soloed, and obtained his or her license only in conditions near
the ocean where there was typically an inverted midday sea
breeze with little to no convective turbulence (thermals). This
developed condence for ying in winds up to 15 knots but
no experience was gained in thermals. In fact, the pilot was
not aware that strong thermals could be hazardous.
Now, with a new license, the pilot visits his parents in the
middle of the high desert of Colorado. Unfamiliar with
the local conditions, the new pilot gets a weather report
of winds to 15 knots, something the pilot has experienced
before. By the time the pilot arrives at the airport, discusses
the situation with the airport ofcials, and sets up the WSC
aircraft, it is 2:00 in the afternoon. The wind is generally calm
but increasing to 15 knots occasionally. There are towering

rot
a

tes
down

Wing completely
stalled and very
high pitch angle

No
se

Phase 1
Phase 2

As the pilot is climbing to a pattern altitude of 1,000 feet

AGL at full throttle, the aircraft is pitched nose up while the
pilot lets the force of the updraft raise the nose. Never has
the pilot felt the nose rise with this type of force before. The
pilot is shocked and disoriented at this high pitch attitude,
but eventually lets up on the throttle. But now at an unusually
high pitch angle, the WSC nose ies into the downdraft of
the thermal. At the same time, the updraft is still pushing up
on the tips of the wing while the downdraft is pushing down
on the nose creating a forward rotation with a weightless
sensation. Before the pilot knows it, the wing is rotating
pitch down for a vertical dive. [Phase 1 in Figure 6-23] The
student remembers from training that in a nose down rotation
into a steep dive the control bar is pushed full forward and
full throttle applied and initiates this corrective action. The
pilot reaches the vertical dive, but because of the corrective
action the WSC aircraft recovers from the dive and proceeds
back to land safely.

Phase 3

The pilot takes off in relatively calm winds, but it is unusually

bumpy air. Without any experience in the high desert or with
thermal conditions, the pilot has misjudged the conditions and
is ying in strong thermal convection. The new pilot climbs
out trying to get above the turbulence, which usually works
near the beach because of the mechanical turbulence near the
ground. However, the turbulence increases.

Whip Stall

cumulus clouds in the sky surrounding the current airport

similar to clouds that the pilot had seen far inland from where
he or she took instruction and soloed.

Any nose down

rotationpilot pushes
control bar full
forward and applies
full throttle

Vertical dive
pilot continues
to hold control
bar full forward
and full throttle

Nose is tucked under

pilot continues to hold
control bar full forward
and full throttle

In a new area and unfamiliar with the conditions, the

new pilot should have asked the local instructor or
other pilots about the conditions for the day. Local
WSC pilots are a great resource for ying the local
conditions, but pilots of any category aircraft are
knowledgeable of the conditions and could have
provided advice for the new pilot. This might have
prevented the new pilot from attempting this ight.
Flying in a new environment and not understanding
the power of midday thermals in the high desert should
have forced the new pilot to scrap this midday ight.
The pilot should have started ying in the morning
when there is little thermal convection and gained
experience and understanding about the weather in
this new area.

Phase 4

What went wrong? What were the errors? How could this
near catastrophe have been avoided?

Tumblewith complete
loss of control of aircraft, it
will most likely have
structural failure.
Use ballistic parachute
system (if so equipped).

Figure 6-23. Whip stall/tuck/tumble sequence.

6-25

Better preflight planning should have been

accomplished, especially in a new location. The pilot
should have known to obtain convective information
and realize it was going to be too bumpy for his or
her limited experience. The pilot was accustomed
to seeing towering cumulus clouds where he or she
trained, but they were way inland and not in the normal
ying area. Here clouds were observed all around.

After the series of errors occurred, the pilot nally performed

the preventive action to avoid a tumblefrom the basic
training of If the WSC is at a high pitch angle and the
nose starts to rotate down to a low pitch angle, increase to
full power while pushing the control bar full out to avoid a
tumble.

Site observations indicated strong thermal activity.

Observation of winds picking up to 15 knots and then
becoming calm normally indicates thermal activity.
The pilot was familiar with steady 15 knot winds,
but did not understand that calm wind increasing
cyclically to 15 knots indicates thermal activity.

Knowledge of the effects and use of the controls is basic to

develop a feel of the aircraft and become accustomed to
attitude ying. This is the basis for all ight maneuvers. The
four basic WSC ight maneuvers requiring pilot prociency
are:

The pilot did not initially react to the updraft and

resultant high pitch angle properly because pitch
management habits had not been developed. The pilot
hit the updraft and allowed the force of the updraft
to move the control bar forward, increasing the pitch
angle while not letting up on the throttle immediately.
Both the control bar forward and full throttle forced
the nose too high, creating the high pitch angle and
whip stall condition. At the same time, the WSC
aircraft ew into the downdraft, starting the nosedown rotation.

6-26

If the pilot had reacted quickly, pulled in the bar while

letting up on the throttle and immediately going into
the strong thermal, the high pitch angle would not have
been achieved and the strong forward rotation would
not have happened so abruptly.

Chapter Summary

Straight-and-level ight.

Level turns.

Climbs and climbing turns.

Descents and descending turns.

Once the basic maneuvers are mastered, the steep turn allows
the pilot to achieve maximum performance from the aircraft.
Energy management techniques provide the basis for ying in
different atmospheric conditions and introduce the student to
precise pitch and power control. Slow ight and stall provide
the pilot an awareness of the ability of the WSC to y at the
lower end of the WSC performance.
Whip stalls and tumbles are unique to WSC ight, and pilot
awareness and avoidance is an important concept for WSC
pilots to understand.

Chapter 7

Takeoff and
Departure Climbs
Introduction
This chapter discusses takeoffs and departure climbs in
weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft with tricycle landing
gear under normal conditions, crosswinds, and under
conditions which require maximum performance. A thorough
knowledge of takeoff principles, both in theory and practice,
is extremely valuable throughout a pilots career. It often
prevents an attempted takeoff that would result in an accident,
or during an emergency, makes a takeoff possible under
critical conditions in which a pilot with less knowledge and
lesser technique would normally fail.

7-1

The takeoff, though relatively simple, often presents the most

hazards of any part of a ight. The importance of thorough
knowledge, faultless technique, and sound judgment cannot
be overemphasized.
It must be remembered that the manufacturers recommended
procedures, including conguration and airspeeds, and other
information relevant to takeoffs and departure climbs in
a specic make and model WSC aircraft are contained in
the Airplane Flight Manual/Pilots Operating Handbook
(AFM/POH). If any of the information in this chapter differs
from the manufacturers recommendations as contained in
the AFM/POH, the manufacturers recommendations take
precedence.
Terms and Denitions
Although the takeoff and climb is one continuous maneuver,
it is divided into three separate steps for purposes of
explanation: takeoff roll, lift-off, and initial climb after
becoming airborne. [Figure 7-1]

Takeoff roll (ground roll)the portion of the takeoff

procedure during which the aircraft is accelerated from
standstill to an airspeed that provides sufcient lift for
it to become airborne.

Lift-off (rotation)the act of becoming airborne as a

result of the wings lifting the aircraft off the ground
or the pilot rotating the nose up, increasing the angle
of attack to start a climb.

Initial climbbegins when the aircraft leaves the

ground and an initial pitch attitude has been established
to climb away from the takeoff area. Normally, it is
considered complete when the aircraft has reached a
safe maneuvering altitude, or an en route climb has
been established.

TAKEOFF POWER

ROTATION

Prior to Takeoff
Before taxiing onto the runway or takeoff area, the pilot
should ensure that the engine is operating properly and that
all controls, including trim (if equipped), are set in accordance
with the before takeoff checklist. In addition, the pilot must
make certain that the approach and takeoff paths are clear
of other aircraft. At uncontrolled airports, pilots should
announce their intentions on the common trafc advisory
frequency (CTAF) assigned to that airport. When operating
from an airport with an operating control tower, pilots must
contact the tower operator and receive a takeoff clearance
before taxiing onto the active runway.
It is not recommended to take off immediately behind
another aircraft, particularly large, heavily loaded transport
airplanes because of the wake turbulence that is generated.
Even smaller aircraft can generate vortices that can cause the
WSC aircraft to lose control during takeoff. Always wait for
aircraft vortices to clear before taking off.
While taxiing onto the runway, the pilot can select ground
reference points that are aligned with the runway direction
as aids to maintaining directional control during the takeoff.
These may be runway centerline markings, runway lighting,
distant trees, towers, buildings, or mountain peaks.

Normal Takeoff
A normal takeoff is one in which the aircraft is headed into
the wind, or the wind is very light. Also, the takeoff surface is
rm and of sufcient length to permit the aircraft to gradually
accelerate to normal lift-off and climb-out speed, and there
are no obstructions along the takeoff path.

BEST CLIMB SPEED

SAFE MANEUVERING
ALTITUDE CLIMB POWER

25
TAKEOFF ROLL

Figure 7-1. Takeoff and climb.

7-2

LIFT-OFF

CLIMB

EN ROUTE

There are two reasons for making a takeoff as nearly into

the wind as possible. First, the aircrafts speed while on
the ground is much lower than if the takeoff were made
downwind, thus reducing wear and stress on the landing
gear. Second, a shorter ground roll and, therefore, much
less runway length is required to develop the minimum lift
necessary for takeoff and climb. Since the aircraft depends
on airspeed in order to y, a headwind provides some of that
airspeed, even with the aircraft motionless, from the wind
owing over the wings.
Takeoff Roll
After taxiing onto the runway, the WSC aircraft should be
carefully aligned with the intended takeoff direction and
the nosewheel positioned straight down the runway on the
centerline. After releasing the brakes, the throttle should
be advanced smoothly and continuously to takeoff power.
[Figure 7-2] This can be done with the foot or the hand
cruise throttle.

Figure 7-2. Lined up in the middle of the runway and ready to apply

full power for takeoff.

The advantage of using the foot throttle is that the takeoff

can be aborted quickly if required. The disadvantage is that
the foot can slip off or be knocked off during the critical
takeoff phase of ight. The advantage of using the hand cruise
throttle during takeoff is having a solid and set throttle that the
pilot does not have to worry about holding during the takeoff
phase of ight. Students have been known to release the foot
throttle on takeoff, resulting in catastrophic consequences
during the lift-off and initial climb phases of ight. Students
may be encouraged to use the hand throttle by the instructor
or the instructor must be able to immediately apply the hand
or secondary foot throttle if a student lets up on the throttle
during this critical takeoff and climb phase.
An abrupt application of power may cause the aircraft to
yaw sharply to the left (or right depending on the propeller
rotation) because of the torque effects of the engine and

propeller. This is most apparent in high horsepower engines.

As the aircraft starts to roll forward, the pilot should ensure
that both feet are on the front steering fork and not applying
the brake.
As speed is gained, the control bar fore and aft pitch tends
to assume a neutral trim position. The wing should be
maintained level side to side with the control bar. At the same
time, directional control should be maintained with smooth,
prompt, positive nosewheel steering throughout the takeoff
roll. The effects of engine torque at the initial speeds tend to
pull the nose to the left (or right depending on the propeller
rotation). The pilot must steer the WSC aircraft straight down
the middle of the runway with the feet. The positioning of the
wing has no effect of steering on the ground. The common
saying among WSC pilots is you steer with your feet, you
y with your hands.
While the speed of the takeoff roll increases, increasingly
more pressure is felt on the control bar to the ground roll
trim position. Letting the wing pitch pressures determine the
fore and aft control bar position provides the least drag for the
WSC aircraft to accelerate. The pilot maintains directional
control down the center of the runway with the foot steering,
keeps the wings level side to side, and allows the wing to
determine the pitch angle during the acceleration.
Lift-Off
Since a good takeoff depends on the proper takeoff attitude,
it is important to know how this attitude appears and how it
is attained. The ideal takeoff attitude requires only minimum
pitch adjustments shortly after the airplane lifts off to attain
the speed for the best rate of climb (VY). [Figure 7-3]
The pitch attitude necessary for the aircraft to accelerate
to VY speed should be demonstrated by the instructor and
memorized by the student. Initially, the student pilot may
have a tendency to hold excessive control bar forward/nose
up pressure just after lift-off, resulting in an abrupt pitch-up.
The ight instructor should be prepared for this. For a normal
takeoff, the WSC aircraft should lift off the ground gradually
and smoothly.
Each type of WSC aircraft has a best pitch attitude for normal
lift-off; however, varying conditions may make a difference
in the required takeoff technique. A rough eld, a smooth
eld, a hard surface runway, or a short or soft, muddy eld,
calls for a slightly different technique as does smooth air in
contrast to a strong, gusty wind. The different techniques
for those other-than-normal conditions are discussed later
in this chapter.
As the WSC aircraft accelerates and obtains the speed it
needs to lift off, a slight push forward on the control bar
7-3

Initial Roll

Takeoff Attitude

Figure 7-3. Initial roll and takeoff attitude.

provides the initial attitude to lift-off. This is often referred

to as rotating. At this point, the climb speed should be
immediately established for the particular condition. For calm
winds, this would be the trim position or the manufacturer
recommended takeoff safety airspeed. The wings must be
kept level by applying side to side pressure as necessary.
Since some forward pressure was required to rotate, this
pressure must be relaxed smoothly so that takeoff attitude
is not too high. This requires the control bar being brought
back to trim and applying some nose down pressure to avoid
popping off as the WSC aircraft leaves the ground. Each make
and model is different and the high power WSC aircraft must
provide more nose down pressure after rotation to keep the
attitude low. A good takeoff is a smooth and gradual liftoff.
It is important to hold the correct attitude constant after
rotation and liftoff.
As the aircraft leaves the ground, the pilot must continue to
be concerned with maintaining the wings in a level attitude,
as well as holding the proper pitch attitude. An outside visual
scan to attain/maintain proper pitch and bank attitude must
be intensied at this critical point.
During takeoffs in a strong, gusty wind, it is advisable that an
extra margin of speed be obtained before the WSC aircraft is
allowed to leave the ground. A takeoff at the normal takeoff
speed may result in a lack of positive control, or a stall,
when the WSC aircraft encounters a sudden lull in strong,
gusty wind, or other turbulent air currents. In this case, the
pilot should allow the aircraft to stay on the ground longer
by pulling the control bar towards the chest keeping the nose
down to attain more speed; then make a smooth, positive
rotation to leave the ground.

7-4

Initial Climb
Upon lift-off, the WSC aircraft should be ying at the
approximate pitch attitude that allows it to accelerate to at
least the manufacturers takeoff safety speed. This is usually
close to the best climb rate speed VY providing the greatest
altitude gain in a period of time. Higher speeds should be
used if the air is turbulent to assure the WSC does not stall
from a strong wind gust. This speed should be maintained
during the initial climb out in case of an engine failure. This
is especially important with higher power engines and larger
wings to avoid a high pitch attitude during this critical phase
of the takeoff. With a lower pitch attitude and a faster speed,
the WSC aircraft can recover easier from an engine failure on
takeoff. This is discussed in greater detail in the emergency
procedures chapter of this handbook. For example, from
liftoff to 200 feet it is a good practice to keep a low pitch
angle to anticipate an engine failure; above 200 feet, VY can
be used as a climb speed. [Figures 7-4 and 7-5]
After liftoff and throughout the climb, the engine instruments
should be checked for proper cooling and oil pressure (if so
equipped) since this is the critical time when temperature
rises and should stabilize within the manufacturers
specications.
The manufacturers recommended takeoff power should be
maintained until reaching an altitude of at least 500 feet above
the surrounding terrain or obstacles. The combination of VY
and takeoff power assures the maximum altitude gained in
the time during takeoff. This provides the pilot the greatest
altitude from which the aircraft can be safely maneuvered in
case of an engine failure or other emergency.

During initial climb, it is important that the takeoff path

remain aligned with the runway to avoid drifting into
obstructions or the path of another aircraft that may be taking
off from a parallel runway. Proper scanning techniques are
essential to a safe takeoff and climb, not only for maintaining
attitude and direction, but also for collision avoidance in the
airport area. [Figure 7-6]

Figure 7-4. Initial takeoff grass strip with control bar pulled in

slightly for a higher speed after liftoff in case of engine failure.

Figure 7-6. Pilots view showing WSC centered in the middle of the

runway during initial climb.

Figure 7-5. Best climb speed control bar position for this WSC is
shown after initial climb where there is sufficient altitude for easy
recovery in case of engine failure.

Since the power on the initial climb is xed at the takeoff

power setting, the airspeed must be controlled by making
slight pitch adjustments using the control bar. However, the
pilot should not xate on the airspeed indicator when making
these pitch changes, but continue to scan outside to adjust the
attitude in relation to the horizon and the feel of the aircraft.
The WSC aircraft can be own by using bar position and the
feel of the air to determine proper airspeed; it is not necessary
to look at the airspeed indicator to determine exact airspeed.
In accordance with the principles of ying a WSC aircraft,
the pilot should rst make the necessary pitch change with
reference to the bar position, and then glance at the airspeed
indicator as a check to see if the new speed is correct.
After the recommended climb airspeed has been established
and a safe maneuvering altitude has been reached, the power
should be adjusted to the recommended climb setting (if
different) and the WSC aircraft trimmed (if so equipped) to
relieve the control pressures. This makes it easier to hold a
constant attitude and airspeed.

When the student pilot nears the solo stage of ight training,
it should be explained that the aircrafts takeoff performance
is much different when the instructor is out of the aircraft.
Due to decreased load, the WSC aircraft becomes airborne
sooner and climbs more rapidly. The pitch attitude that the
student has learned to associate with initial climb differs
signicantly due to decreased weight. This can be a dramatic
effect since a 250 pound instructor could reduce the total
weight of the WSC aircraft by 30 percent. This gives the
student the sensation of lying on his or her back during initial
takeoff and the reaction is to let off the throttle with serious
consequences if the student is using the foot throttle. It must
be emphasized by the instructor that the student will seem
to be rotated and going straight up, but not to let up on the
throttle. The reaction of the student is to pull in the control
bar to lower the high pitch attitude. This is where the cruise
throttle should be used to eliminate this common problem.
The increase in performance is signicant when the student
rst solos in the same aircraft, which must be explained
and understood. If the situation is unexpected, it may result
in increased tension that may remain throughout the ight.
Frequently, the existence of this tension and the uncertainty
that develops due to the perception of an abnormal takeoff
results in poor performance on the subsequent landing.

7-5

Common errors in the performance of normal takeoffs and

departure climbs are:

Failure to adequately clear the area prior to taxiing

into position on the active runway.

Abrupt use of the throttle.

Letting off the foot throttle after takeoff.

Failure to check engine instruments for signs of

malfunction after liftoff and climb.

Failure to anticipate the aircrafts left turning tendency

on initial acceleration and takeoff.

Overcorrecting for left turning tendency.

Overcorrecting for roll.

Relying solely on the airspeed indicator rather

than developing a feel for indications of speed and
controllability during acceleration and lift-off.

Failure to attain proper lift-off attitude.

Overcontrol of pitch during initial lift-off to

climbout.

Failure to attain/maintain best rate of climb airspeed

(VY).

Failure to employ the principles of attitude ying

during climb-out, resulting in chasing the airspeed
indicator.

Crosswind Takeoff
While it is usually preferable to take off directly into the
wind whenever possible or practical, there are many instances
when circumstances or judgment indicate otherwise.
Therefore, the pilot must be familiar with the principles and
techniques involved in crosswind takeoffs, as well as those
for normal takeoffs.
The manufacturers maximum wind and crosswind component
in the POH should not be exceeded. The following procedures
are for operation within these limitations.
Takeoff Roll
The technique used during the initial takeoff roll in a crosswind
is generally the same as used in a normal takeoff, except that
the pilot must control the wings tendency to weathervane
into the wind during the takeoff roll. Additionally, the pilot
should keep the WSC aircraft on the ground and accelerate
to a higher speed before rotation.
As the aircraft is taxied into takeoff position, it is essential that
the windsock and other wind direction indicators be checked
so that the presence of a crosswind may be recognized and
anticipated. During taxi and takeoff, the windward side of
the wing needs to be slightly lowered so as to not let the
7-6

wind get under it and lift it off; but not too low or additional
pilot effort is required and unnecessary stress is placed on
the carriage.
The crosswind takeoff is performed similar to the normal
takeoff except two different techniques are utilized. First, as
the WSC aircraft accelerates and the pilot steers the carriage
straight down the runway, the wing will want to weathervane
into the wind. This creates stress on the wing attachment to
the carriage, the carriage mast, and the keel of the carriage.
Therefore, the pilot must hold the wing control bar straight
to the carriage which requires signicant force and muscle.
Second, the pilot must accelerate to a higher speed before
rotating to account for the crosswind component. This requires
the nose to be held down to prevent the WSC from popping
off the ground before the higher airspeed is obtained.
Since this technique requires the pilot to muscle the wing
rather than using a light touch, it requires a mastery of
the normal takeoff before crosswind takeoffs should be
attempted. As the WSC aircraft accelerates down the runway,
the forces of the wing try to weathervane it into the wind and
the nose raises up to trim. The wing should be held straight
with the nose down until rotation where the wing is held
straight and the nose raised.
Rotation and Lift-Off
When a faster rotation speed than normal takeoff is achieved,
a smooth but quicker push out to rotate is desired to get
the front and rear wheels into the air quickly, avoiding any
tendency to remain on the rear wheels. After lift-off, the WSC
automatically rotates into the relative wind since momentum
is straight down the runway and the characteristics of the wing
point it directly into the relative wind. The WSC sets up the
wind correction angle (or crab angle as it is also called) as it
lifts off. [Figure 7-7]
Initial Climb
After lift-off, the WSC aircraft is pointed toward the wind
and the ground track is headed straight down the runway
centerline. Maintain this ground track aligned directly
down the centerline of the runway crabbing into the
wind. Crabbing is a term used to adjust ight controls into
the crosswind to maintain a straight ground track while the
WSC is pointed towards the wind, as seen in Figure 7-8.
To maintain the ground track it is important to look straight
down the runway centerline and steer to stay on that ground
track even though the WSC is pointed towards the wind
and not directly down the runway. Because the force of a
crosswind may vary markedly within a few hundred feet of
the ground, frequent checks of actual ground track should be
made [Figure 7-7] or the WSC could drift to the side if the
wind correction angle is not maintained. The remainder of

CLIMB

Ground Track Flightpath

Wind

ROTATIONLIFT-OFF

Figure 7-7. Wing correction angle (or crab angle as is is commonly

called).

Wind

the climb technique is the same used for normal takeoffs and
climbs maintaining the proper ground track with the proper
wing correction angle/crab angle. [Figure 7-8]
In addition to normal takeoffs, additional common errors in
the performance of crosswind takeoffs are:

Letting the windward side of the wing get too high.

Allowing the wing to weathervane into the wind

during the takeoff roll.

Not obtaining additional speed before rotation.

Too slow of a rotation during lift-off.

Inadequate drift correction after lift-off.

Ground Effect on Takeoff

Ground effect is a condition of improved performance
encountered when the aircraft is operating very close to
the ground. Ground effect can be detected and measured
up to an altitude of about one wingspan above the surface.
[Figure 7-9] However, ground effect is most signicant when
the WSC aircraft is maintaining a constant attitude at low
airspeed and low altitude. Examples are during takeoff when
the aircraft lifts off and accelerates to climb speed, and also
during the landing are before touchdown. When the wing
is under the inuence of ground effect, there is a reduction
in upwash, downwash, and wingtip vortices.
Since the WSC wing is a high wing aircraft, the effects
are not as pronounced as a low wing airplane, but during
rotation, the reduction in induced drag is about 25 percent

25

TAKEOFF ROLL

ding
Hea

Wind
ion
Correct
Angle
b
ra
(C
Angle)

Figure 7-8. Crosswind takeoff.

and decreases as the WSC aircraft climbs. At high speeds

where parasite drag dominates, induced drag is a small part
of the total drag. Consequently, the effects of ground effect
are of greater concern during takeoff and landing.

7-7

No Noticeable ground effect with wing

at full wingspan above the ground
Wingspan

Significant ground effect

with wheels just off the ground

Noticeable ground effect

up to half wingspan

Figure 7-9. Ground effect area.

On takeoff, the takeoff roll, lift-off, and the beginning of the

initial climb are accomplished in the ground effect area. As
the aircraft lifts off and climbs out of the ground effect area
the following occurs.

The WSC aircraft requires an increase in angle of

attack to maintain the same lift coefcient.

The WSC aircraft experiences an increase in induced

drag and thrust required.

Due to the reduced drag in ground effect, the aircraft may

seem capable of taking off below the recommended airspeed
with less thrust. However, as the aircraft rises out of ground
effect with an insufcient airspeed, initial climb performance
may prove to be marginal due to increased drag. Under
conditions of high density altitude, high temperature, and/or
maximum gross weight, the aircraft may become airborne
at an insufcient airspeed but unable to climb out of ground
effect. Consequently, the aircraft may not be able to clear
obstructions or may settle back on the runway. The point to
remember is that additional power is required to compensate
for increases in drag that occur as an aircraft leaves ground
effect. But during an initial climb, the engine is already
developing maximum power. The only alternative is to lower
pitch attitude to gain additional airspeed, which results in
inevitable altitude loss. Therefore, under marginal conditions,
it is important that the aircraft take off at the recommended
speed that provides adequate initial climb performance.
7-8

Ground effect is important to normal ight operations. If

the runway is long enough, or if no obstacles exist, ground
effect can be used to advantage by utilizing the reduced drag
to improve initial acceleration. Additionally, the procedure
for takeoff from unsatisfactory surfaces is to take as much
weight on the wings as possible during the ground run, and to
lift off with the aid of ground effect before true ying speed
is attained. It is then necessary to reduce the angle of attack
to attain normal airspeed before attempting to y away from
the ground effect area.

Short Field Takeoff and Steepest Angle

Climb
Takeoffs and climbs from elds in which the takeoff area is
short or the available takeoff area is restricted by obstructions
require the pilot to operate the WSC aircraft at the limit of its
takeoff performance capabilities. To depart from such an area
safely, the pilot must exercise positive and precise control of
attitude and airspeed so that takeoff and climb performance
results in the shortest ground roll and the steepest angle of
climb.
The achieved result should be consistent with the performance
section of the AFM/POH. In all cases, the power setting,
trim setting, airspeed, and procedures prescribed by the
manufacturer should be followed.

In order to accomplish a short eld takeoff and steepest angle

climb safely, the pilot must have adequate knowledge in the
use and effectiveness of the best angle-of-climb (VX) speed
and the best rate-of-climb (VY) speed for the specic make
and model of WSC aircraft being own.
The speed for VX is that which results in the greatest gain in
altitude for a given distance over the ground. VX is usually
less than VY but greater than minimum controlled airspeed. It
should be noted that this maneuver is not performed in normal
situations. Flying at VX speed close to the ground in gusty
winds can result in a stall with catastrophic consequences.
If clearing an obstacle is questionable, the WSC aircraft
should be packed up and trailered away. If a pilot decides to
perform a short eld takeoff, then a number of factors can
be optimized to contribute to a short eld takeoff such as
leaving your passenger and/or baggage in the area, waiting
for favorable winds or lower density altitude, and picking the
longest runway path with the shortest obstacle to clear.
However, if a short eld takeoff is going to be performed
and all possible factors have been optimized, the following
procedure is provided. The procedure is similar to the normal
takeoff but the following additional procedure is used for
this maneuver.
Takeoff Roll
Taking off from a short eld requires the takeoff to be started
from the very beginning of the takeoff area. The WSC
manufacturers recommended specic trim setting should be
set before starting the takeoff roll. This permits the pilot to
give full attention to the proper technique and the aircrafts
performance throughout the takeoff.

Some authorities prefer to hold the brakes until the maximum

obtainable engine revolutions per minute (rpm) is achieved
before allowing the WSC aircraft to begin its takeoff run.
However, it has not been established that this procedure
results in a shorter takeoff run in all WSC aircraft, many of
which can not hold the brakes at full throttle. If the brakes
are not held with the throttle advanced to full and then
released, takeoff power should be applied immediately to
full throttle as fast as possible without the engine bogging
down to accelerate the aircraft as rapidly as possible. The
WSC aircraft should be allowed to roll with the wing nding
the trim position for minimum drag during acceleration to
the lift-off speed.
Lift-Off and Climb Out
At VX speed, the WSC aircraft should be smoothly and rmly
rotated by applying control bar forward pressure to an attitude
that results in the VX airspeed. After becoming airborne, a
wings-level climb should be maintained at VX until obstacles
have been cleared. Thereafter, the pitch attitude may be
lowered slightly and the climb continued at VY speed until
reaching a safe maneuvering altitude.
Remember that an attempt to rotate off the ground prematurely
or to climb too steeply may cause the WSC aircraft to settle
back to the runway or into the obstacles. Even if the aircraft
remains airborne, the initial climb remains at and climb
performance/obstacle clearance ability is seriously degraded
until VX airspeed is achieved. [Figure 7-10]

Figure 7-10. Short field takeoff.

7-9

In addition to normal takeoffs, common errors in the

performance of short eld takeoffs are:

Deciding to do a questionable short eld takeoff

when the WSC aircraft can be packed up and driven
away.

Failure to adequately determine the best path with the

longest run and shortest obstacle.

Failure to utilize all available runway/takeoff area.

Failure to wait for the best atmospheric conditions of

density altitude and wind direction.

Failure to reduce all possible weight from the WSC

aircraft.

Failure to have the WSC aircraft properly trimmed

prior to takeoff.

Premature lift-off resulting in high drag.

Holding the WSC aircraft on the ground

unnecessarily.

Inadequate rotation resulting in excessive speed after

lift-off.

Inability to attain/maintain best VX airspeed.

Fixation on the airspeed indicator during initial

climb.

Soft/Rough Field Takeoff and Climb

Takeoffs and climbs from soft elds require the use of
operational techniques for getting the WSC aircraft airborne
as quickly as possible to eliminate the drag caused by tall
grass, soft sand, mud, and snow, and may or may not require
climbing over an obstacle. The technique makes judicious

use of ground effect and requires a feel for the WSC aircraft
and ne control touch. These same techniques are also useful
on a rough eld where it is advisable to get the aircraft off
the ground as soon as possible to avoid damaging the landing
gear.
Soft surfaces or long, wet grass usually reduce the aircrafts
acceleration during the takeoff roll so much that adequate
takeoff speed might not be attained if normal takeoff
techniques were employed.
It should be emphasized that the WSC aircraft is different
from most aircraft. The high wing creates a high center of
gravity in which the front wheel can bog down in soft elds
and ip the WSC aircraft forward. The propeller in the
back pushing down on the front wheel also contributes to
this unique situation. This is a limitation for WSC aircraft
that should not be ignored. WSC aircraft that land in soft
elds or sand may not be able to take off. There is a wide
variation of manufacturer designs with the least preferable
being a skinny, high pressure, highly loaded front tire. WSC
aircraft with large wide tires that can be operated at low
pressure are designed for operation in soft and rough elds.
[Figures 7-11 through 7-13]
Correct takeoff procedure for soft elds and rough elds is
quite different from that appropriate for short elds with rm,
smooth surfaces. To minimize the hazards associated with
takeoffs from soft or rough elds, support of the aircrafts
weight must be transferred as rapidly as possible from the
wheels to the wings as the takeoff roll proceeds. Establishing
and maintaining a relatively high angle of attack with a nosehigh pitch attitude as early as possible achieves this.

Figure 7-11. Soft field takeoff limitation for WSC aircraft: front wheel digs in and WSC aircraft rolls forward.

7-10

Figure 7-12. Example of a WSC aircraft designed with a wide low-pressure front wheel for soft field operation.

Figure 7-13. Grass fields are commonly used for WSC operations but require a longer time to accelerate to takeoff speed.

7-11

Stopping on a soft surface, such as mud, snow or sand,

might bog the aircraft down; therefore, it should be kept in
continuous motion with sufcient power while lining up for
the takeoff roll.
Takeoff Roll
As the aircraft is aligned with the takeoff path, takeoff power
is applied smoothly and rapidly. As the aircraft accelerates,
the control bar is moved full forward to the front tube to
establish a positive angle of attack and to reduce the weight
supported by the nosewheel because any lift on the wing
takes load off of the landing gear.
When the aircraft is held at a nose-high attitude throughout
the takeoff run and as speed increases and lift develops, the
wings progressively relieve the wheels of more and more of
the WSCs weight, thereby minimizing the drag caused by
surface irregularities or adhesion. If this attitude is accurately
maintained, the aircraft virtually ies itself off the ground,
becoming airborne at airspeed slower than a safe climb speed
because of ground effect. [Figure 7-14]
Lift-Off and Initial Climb
After becoming airborne, the nose should be lowered very
gently with the wheels clear but just above the surface to
allow the aircraft to utilize ground effect to accelerate to VY,
or VX if obstacles must be cleared. Extreme care must be
exercised immediately after the aircraft becomes airborne and
while it accelerates to avoid settling back onto the surface.
An attempt to climb prematurely or too steeply may cause the
aircraft to settle back to the surface as a result of losing the
benet of ground effect. An attempt to climb out of ground
effect before sufcient climb airspeed is attained may result
in aircraft incapacity to continue climbing as the ground effect
area is traveled, even with full power for lower powered WSC

aircraft. Therefore, it is essential that the aircraft remain in

ground effect until at least VX is reached. This requires a feel
for the WSC aircraft and a very ne control touch in order
to avoid overcontrolling the pitch control as required control
pressures change with aircraft acceleration. Simply getting
off the ground as quickly as possible and ying in ground
effect is the goal.
In addition to normal takeoffs, additional common errors in
the performance of soft/rough eld takeoffs are:

Attempting a takeoff with a WSC that is not equipped

with the proper tires.

Minimum air pressure not used in tires.

Insufcient control bar forward pressure during initial

takeoff roll, resulting in inadequate angle of attack.

Poor directional control.

Climbing too steeply after lift-off.

Abrupt and/or excessive pitch control while attempting

to level off and accelerate after lift-off.

Allowing the aircraft to mush or settle resulting in

an inadvertent touchdown after lift-off.

Attempting to climb out of ground effect area before

attaining sufcient climb speed.

Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure

Emergency or abnormal situations can occur during a takeoff
that requires a pilot to reject the takeoff while still on the
runway. Circumstances such as a malfunctioning powerplant,
items dislodging during takeoff, inadequate acceleration,
runway incursion, or air trafc conict may be reasons for
a rejected takeoff.

Rotate and lift off

as soon as possible

ACCELERATE WITH NOSE UP

Figure 7-14. Rough and soft field takeoff.

7-12

ACCELERATE IN GROUND EFFECT

CLIMB AT V Y

Prior to takeoff, the pilot should have in mind a point along

the runway at which the aircraft should be airborne. If
that point is reached and the WSC aircraft is not airborne,
immediate action should be taken to discontinue the takeoff.
Properly planned and executed, chances are excellent the
aircraft can be stopped on the remaining runway without
using extraordinary measures, such as excessive braking
that may result in loss of directional control, damage, and/or
personal injury.
In the event a takeoff is rejected, the power should be reduced
to idle or the engine shut off and maximum braking applied
while maintaining directional control. If it is necessary to
shut down the engine due to a re, the fuel supply should
be shut off and the magnetos turned off. In all cases, the
manufacturers emergency procedure should be followed.
What characterizes all power loss or engine failure
occurrences after lift-off is urgency. In most instances,
the pilot has only a few seconds after an engine failure to
decide what course of action to take and to execute it. Unless
prepared in advance to make the proper decision, there is an
excellent chance the pilot will make a poor decision, or make
no decision at all and allow events to rule.
In the event of an engine failure on initial climb-out, the
pilots rst responsibility is to maintain aircraft control. At
a climb pitch attitude without power, the WSC is at or near
a stalling angle of attack. It is essential the pilot immediately
lower the pitch attitude by pulling the control bar back
to the chest immediately to prevent a stall. As discussed
earlier in the climb section, a preventative measure is to
climb to a safe altitude, 200 feet was used as an example,
at least the minimum safe climb speed as recommended by
the manufacturer to lower pitch angle as a safety measure
for this situation to minimize a high pitch angle close to the
ground. The pilot should establish a controlled glide toward
a plausible landing area (preferably straight ahead on the
remaining runway).

Noise Abatement
Aircraft noise problems have become a major concern at many
airports throughout the country. Many local communities
have pressured airports into developing specic operational
procedures that help limit aircraft noise while operating
over nearby areas. For years now, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), airport managers, aircraft operators,

pilots, and special interest groups have been working together
to minimize aircraft noise for nearby sensitive areas. As a
result, noise abatement procedures have been developed for
many of these airports that include standardized proles and
procedures to achieve these lower noise goals.
Airports that have noise abatement procedures provide
information to pilots, operators, air carriers, air traffic
facilities, and other special groups that are applicable to
their airport. These procedures are available to the aviation
community by various means. Most of this information
comes from the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), local and
regional publications, printed handouts, operator bulletin
boards, safety briengs, and local air trafc facilities.
At airports that use noise abatement procedures, reminder
signs may be installed at the taxiway hold positions for
applicable runways. These are to remind pilots to use and
comply with noise abatement procedures on departure. Pilots
who are not familiar with these procedures should ask the
tower or air trafc facility for the recommended procedures.
In any case, pilots should be considerate of the surrounding
community while operating their aircraft to and from such
an airport. This includes operating as quietly, yet safely as
possible.

Chapter Summary
Normal Takeoff is straight down runway centerline with
rotation at proper airspeed and initial climb at safe airspeed
and moderate pitch angle to account for engine failure.
Once to safe maneuvering altitude en route climb speed
is maintained. Cross wind takeoffs are similar to normal
takeoffs except wing must be held straight to ground path
during acceleration and greater speed is obtained before
rotation. Short eld takeoffs are performed by ensuring that
sufcient runway is available for takeoff and utilizing bestangle-of-climb speed (VX) until obstacle is cleared. Rough
or soft eld takeoffs are performed by keeping the weight
off the nosewheel, and lifting off into the ground effect to
gain speed as soon as possible.
Precautions should always be taken by climbing at faster
airspeeds and lower pitch angles in case of an engine failure/
rejected landing.

7-13

7-14

Chapter 8

The National
Airspace System
Introduction
The National Airspace System (NAS) is the network of
all components regarding airspace in the United States.
This comprehensive label includes air navigation facilities,
equipment, services, airports or landing areas, sectional charts,
information/services, rules, regulations, procedures, technical
information, manpower, and material. Many of these system
components are shared jointly with the military. To conform
to international aviation standards, the United States adopted
the primary elements of the classication system developed
by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
This chapter provides a general discussion of airspace
classication. Detailed information on the classication of
airspace, operating procedures, and restrictions is found in
the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

8-1

This handbook departs from the conventional

norm, in that the airspace discussions are
presented in reverse order, in the belief that it
is much easier to learn the airspace from least
complicated to most complicated; also, the
information presented for basic visual ight
rules (VFR) weather minimums is only that
necessary for weight-shift control (WSC)
aircraft operations.
The two categories of airspace are regulatory
and nonregulatory. Within these two
categories, there are four types: uncontrolled,
controlled, special use, and other airspace.
Airspace is charted on sectional charts as
shown in the some examples for the specic
airspaces on the chapter. The specific
airspace symbols are shown on the legend
for each sectional chart. [Figure 8-1] The
WSC aircraft pilot should study and refer
to the specics of the AIM; FAA-H-808325, Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical
Knowledge; and Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91 for
additional information regarding airspace
and operations within that airspace.

Uncontrolled Airspace
Class G Airspace
Class G or uncontrolled airspace is the
portion of the airspace that has not been
designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. Class
G airspace extends from the surface to the
base of controlled airspace (Class B, C, D,
and E) above it as shown in Figures 8-2
and 8-3.
Most Class G airspace is overlaid with
Class E airspace, beginning at either 700
or 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL).
In remote areas of the United States, Class
G airspace extends above 700 and 1,200
AGL to as high as 14,500 feet before the
Class E airspace begins. [Figure 8-2] The
pilot is advised to consult the appropriate
sectional chart to ensure that he or she is
aware of the airspace limits prior to ight
in an unfamiliar area. [Figure 8-4]
There are no communications, entry,
equipment, or minimum pilot certicate

8-2

Figure 8-1. Each student, pilot, and instructor should have a current sectional chart
for the flight area.

Class A
18,000 MSL (FL 180)

Class E controlled airspace

10,000 MSL sport pilot limit

Class G
above
1,200 feet
AGL in
some
areas

Class E controlled airspace

1,2

00

'A
G

ev

yw

he

re

Class E
drops to ground
around some
airports

Class E
drops to 700 feet
AGL over many airports

er

not marked on sectional

Class G uncontrolled airspace

AGLabove ground level

FLflight level

MSLmean sea level

Figure 8-2. Class G uncontrolled airspace and Class E controlled airspace.

60,000 MSL (FL 600)

Class A
18,000 MSL (FL 180)

Class E
10,000 MSL Sport Pilot Limit

Class B

Class E
1,200' AGL

4,000' AGL

Class C

700' AGL

Class G
AGLabove ground level

1,200'
AGL

700'
AGL
2,500' AGL

Class D
Class G
FLflight level

Class G

1,200' AGL

Class G

MSLmean sea level

Figure 8-3. Class G airspace extends from the surface to the base of controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, and E).

8-3

CLASS G from surface to 700 feet AGL.

CLASS G from surface

to 1,200 feet AGL.

CLASS G from surface

to 700 feet AGL.

above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontally from any
cloud(s). A popular mnemonic tool used to remember basic
cloud clearances is C152, a popular xed-wing training
aircraft. In this case, the mnemonic recalls, Clouds 1,000,
500, and 2,000.
Visibility in Class G airspace below 10,000 MSL day ight
is one statute mile (SM) for private pilots and three SM for
sport pilots. See Figure 8-6 for specic Class G weather
minimums for WSC pilots.

Controlled Airspace

fro
ms

et

AG
L.

S
CLA

Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers the different

classications of airspace and dened dimensions within
which ATC service is provided in accordance with the
airspace classication. Controlled airspace consists of:

0
urface to 70

fe

CLASS G from surface

to 12,300 MSL.

CLASS G from surface

to 12,000 feet AGL.

Figure 8-4. Class G airspace as shown on a sectional chart.

requirements to y in uncontrolled Class G airspace unless

there is a control tower. [Figure 8-5]
If operations are conducted at an altitude of < 1,200 feet AGL,
the pilot must remain clear of clouds. If the operations are
conducted more than 1,200 feet AGL but less than 10,000
feet mean sea level (MSL), cloud clearances are 1,000 feet

Figure 8-5. Requirements for airspace operation.

8-4

Class E

Class D

Class C

Class B

Class A

Class E Airspace
Generally, if the airspace is not Class A, B, C, or D, and
is controlled airspace, then it is Class E airspace. Class
E airspace extends upward from either the surface or a
designated altitude to the overlying or adjacent controlled

Basic VFR Weather Minimums

Flight visibility

Airspace*

Distance from clouds

Class A

Not applicable

Not applicable

Class B

3 statute miles

Clear of clouds

Class C

3 statute miles

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

Class D

3 statute miles

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

Less than 10,000 feet MSL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 statute miles

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

At or above 10,000 feet MSL* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 statute miles

1,000 feet below

1,000 feet above
1 statute mile horizontal

Day, except as provided in 14 CFR section 91.155(b). . . . . . . .

1 statute mile

clear of clouds

Night, except as provided in 14 CFR section 91.155(b). . . . . . .

3 statute miles

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

Class E

Class G

1,200 feet or less above the surface (regardless of MSL altitude)

More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL
Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 statute mile

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 statute miles

500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL*
5 statute miles

1,000 feet below

1,000 feet above
1 statute mile horizontal

Sport pilots must maintain 3 SM or better visibility in all airspace.

Sport pilots are not authorized to fly at night.
* Sport pilots are not authorized to fly above 10,000 feet MSL.

Figure 8-6. Basic weather minimums for WSC operations in the different classes of airspace.

airspace. [Figures 8-3 and 8-7] Also Class E is federal

airways beginning at 1,200 feet AGL extending 4 nautical
miles (NM) on each side, extending up to 18,000 feet.
Unless designated at a lower altitude, Class E airspace
begins at 1,200 AGL over the United States, including that
airspace overlying the waters within 12 NM of the coast of
the 48 contiguous states and Alaska, and extends up to but
not including 18,000 feet.

There are no specific communications requirements

associated with Class E airspace [Figure 8-5]; however, some
Class E airspace locations are designed to provide approaches
for instrument approaches, and a pilot would be prudent to
ensure that appropriate communications are established when
operating near those areas.

8-5

AIR
WA
Y
FE
DE
RA
L

CLASS E above 700 AGL

CLASS G surface
to 1,200 AGL.
CLASS E above
CLASS E above 1,200 AGL

su
r fa

CLASS G
L

AIR
WA
Y
FE
DE
RA
L

CLASS E above 12,300 MSL

Restricted

ve

CLASS D
Airspace

0A
bove 70

Class E
to surface
Surface to
6,400 MSL

CLASS E above 1,200 AGL

Figure 8-7. Class E airspace as shown on a sectional chart.

If WSC aircraft operations are being conducted below 10,000

feet MSL, minimum visibility requirements are three statute
miles and basic VFR cloud clearance requirements are
1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal
(remember the C152 mnemonic). Operations above 10,000
feet MSL for private pilots of WSC aircraft require minimum
visibility of ve statute miles and cloud clearances of at least
1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, and one statute mile
horizontally. [Figure 8-5] See Figure 8-6 for specic VFR
visibility requirements.
Towered Airport Operations
All student pilots must have an endorsement to operate within
Class B, C, and D airspace and within airspace for airports
that have a control tower, per 14 CFR section 61.94 or 14 CFR
section 61.95. Only private pilot students can operate within
Class B airspace with the proper endorsements per 14 CFR
section 61.95. Sport pilots must also have an endorsement
per 14 CFR section 61.325 to operate within Class B, C, and
D airspace and within airspace for airports with a control
tower. [Figure 8-5] All students and Sport pilots have further
restrictions regarding the specic Class B airports out of
which they may operate, per 14 CFR section 91.131.
Class D Airspace
Class D is that airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet AGL
(but charted in MSL) surrounding smaller airports with
an operational control tower. [Figures 8-3 and 8-8] The
conguration of each Class D airspace area is individually
tailored. When instrument procedures are published, the
airspace is normally designed to contain the procedures.
8-6

to

AG

CL
AS
SEa

GL. CLASS E
0A
ab
70
o

0
70

CLASS E
to surface

CLASS E above 700 AGL

Military
Operations
Area

Restricted

Figure 8-8. Class D airspace shown on a sectional chart.

Unless otherwise authorized, each aircraft must establish twoway radio communications with the ATC facility providing
air trafc services prior to entering the airspace and thereafter
maintain those communications while in the airspace. Radio
contact should be initiated far enough from the Class D
airspace boundary to preclude entering the Class D airspace
before two-way radio communications are established. It is
important to understand that if the controller responds to the
initial radio call without using the WSC aircrafts call sign,
radio communications have not been established, and the
WSC aircraft may not enter the Class D airspace.
Many airports associated with Class D airspace do not
operate a control tower on a 24-hour-a-day basis. When not
in operation, the airspace will normally revert to Class E or
G airspace, with no communications requirements. Refer to
the AF/D for specic hours of operation airports.
The minimum visibility requirements for Class D airspace
are three statute miles; cloud clearances are the 1,000 above,
500 below and 2,000 vertical. [Figure 8-6]
Class C Airspace
Class C airspace normally extends from the surface to 4,000
feet above the airport elevation surrounding those airports
having an operational control tower, that are serviced by a
radar approach control, and with a certain number of IFR

and passenger enplanements (larger airline operations).

[Figures 8-3 and 8-9] This airspace is charted in feet MSL,
and is generally of a ve NM radius surface area that extends
from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, and
a 10 NM radius area that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet
above the airport elevation. There is also a noncharted outer
area with a 20 NM radius, which extends from the surface
to 4,000 feet above the primary airport, and this area may
include one or more satellite airports. [Figure 8-9]

Since Class C has signicant air trafc, many with larger

airplanes creating stronger vortices, the pilot must be aware
that the chance of encountering catastrophic wingtip vortices
is greater at airports with larger air trafc.
Class B Airspace
Class B airspace is generally airspace from the surface to
10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nations busiest airports
in terms of IFR operations or passenger enplanements.
[Figures 8-3 and 8-10] The conguration of each Class B
airspace area is individually tailored and consists of a surface
area and two or more additional layers (some Class B
airspace areas resemble upside-down wedding cakes), and
is designed to contain all published instrument procedures
once an aircraft enters the airspace.

Figure 8-9. Class C airspace as shown on a sectional chart.

WSC aircraft can y into Class C airspace by contacting

the control tower rst, establishing communications (same
as Class D), and having an altitude encoding transponder.
Aircraft can enter Class C airspace without a transponder if
prior permission from ATC is received 1 hour before entry,
per 14 CFR section 91.215(d)(3). Aircraft may y under the
Class C upper tier of airspace without a transponder but not
over the top of Class C airspace lateral boundaries.
Cloud clearances in Class C airspace are the same as Class D
airspace: minimum visibility of three statute miles, and a
minimum distance from clouds of 1,000 feet above, 500 feet
below, and 2,000 feet horizontal.

Figure 8-10. Class B airspace as shown on a sectional chart.

Equipment requirements are the same as for Class C airspace;

however, due to air trafc congestion, the WSC aircraft pilot
requesting entry to Class B airspace may be denied entry.
Since aircraft operating in Class B airspace have a radar
signature and ATC provides aircraft separation, there is a
difference in the cloud clearance requirements. Visibility
remains three statute miles, but minimum cloud clearance
requirement is to remain clear of clouds. [Figure 8-6]

8-7

Airspace Above 10,000' MSL and Below 18,000'

For WSC aircraft ying above 10,000 feet MSL, the visibility
must be greater than 5 SM and cloud clearances increase to
1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 SM horizontal.
If the WSC aircraft was not certicated with an electrical
system, an altitude encoding transponder is required per 14
CFR section 91.215.
Oxygen is required for the pilot above 12,500 MSL up to
and including 14,000 feet MSL if the ight at those levels
is more than 30 minutes duration. At altitudes above 14,000
feet MSL, oxygen is required for the pilot during the entire
ight time at those altitudes. At altitudes above 15,000 feet
MSL, each occupant of the aircraft must be provided with
supplemental oxygen.
Class A Airspace
Class A airspace is generally the airspace from 18,000 feet
MSL up to and including FL 600, including the airspace
overlying the waters within 12 NM of the coast of the 48
contiguous states and Alaska. Unless otherwise authorized,
all operations in Class A airspace are conducted under IFR.
Class A airspace is not applicable to WSC pilots.

Special Use Airspace

Special use airspace is the designation for airspace in which
certain activities must be conned, or where limitations may
be imposed on aircraft operations that are not part of those
activities.
Special use airspace usually consists of:

Prohibited areas

Restricted areas

Warning areas

Military operation areas (MOAs)

Alert areas

Controlled ring areas

Parachute jump areas

Except for controlled firing areas, special use airspace

areas are depicted on visual sectional charts. [Figure 8-11]
Controlled ring areas are not charted because their activities
are suspended immediately when spotter aircraft, radar,
or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be
approaching the area. Nonparticipating aircraft are not
required to change their ightpaths. Special use airspace
areas are shown in their entirety (within the limits of the
chart), even when they overlap, adjoin, or when an area is
designated within another area. The areas are identied by

8-8

Figure 8-11. Special use airspace designations as appear on

sectional charts.

type and identifying name or number, positioned either within

or immediately adjacent to the area. [Figure 8-11]
Prohibited, restricted or warning areas; alert areas; and MOAs
are further dened with tables on sectional charts for their
altitudes, time of use, controlling agency/contact facility and
controlling agency contact frequency. [Figure 8-12]
Prohibited Areas
Prohibited areas contain airspace of dened dimensions
within which the ight of aircraft is prohibited. Such areas

Figure 8-12. Example of the additional information provided on sectional charts for special use airspace.

are established for security or other reasons associated with

the national welfare. These areas are published in the Federal
Register and are depicted on sectional charts. The area is
charted as a P followed by a number (e.g., P-56 A and
B). [Figure 8-13]

agency may be extremely hazardous to the aircraft and its

occupants. ATC facilities apply the following procedures:
1.

If the restricted area is not active and has been released

to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the
ATC facility will allow the aircraft to operate in the
restricted airspace without issuing specic clearance
for it to do so.

2.

If the restricted area is active and has not been released

to the FAA, the ATC facility will issue a clearance
which will ensure the aircraft avoids the restricted
airspace.

Restricted areas are charted with an R followed by a number

(e.g., R-4803 and R-4810) and are depicted on the sectional
charts. [Figure 8-14]

Figure 8-13. Prohibited area in Washington, D.C., on a sectional

chart.

Restricted Areas
Restricted areas are areas where operations are hazardous to
nonparticipating aircraft and contain airspace within which
the ight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject
to restrictions. Activities within these areas must be conned
because of their nature, or limitations may be imposed upon
aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities, or
both. Restricted areas denote the existence of unusual, often
invisible, hazards to aircraft (e.g., artillery ring, aerial
gunnery, or guided missiles). Penetration of restricted areas
is illegal without authorization from the using or controlling

Warning Areas
Warning areas consist of airspace which may contain hazards
to nonparticipating aircraft in international airspace. The
activities may be much the same as those for a restricted
area. Warning areas are established beyond the three mile
limit and are depicted on sectional charts.
Military Operations Areas (MOAs)
MOAs consist of airspace of dened vertical and lateral limits
established for the purpose of separating certain military
training activity from IFR trafc. There is no restriction
against a pilot operating VFR in these areas; however, a
pilot should be alert since training activities may include
acrobatic and abrupt maneuvers. MOAs are depicted by
name and with dened boundaries on sectional, VFR terminal
area, and en route low altitude charts and are not numbered
(e.g., CHURCHILL HIGH MOA, CHURCHILL LOW

8-9

Alert Areas
Alert areas are depicted on sectional charts with an A
followed by a number (e.g., A-211 as in Figure 8-16) to
inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a
high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial
activity. Pilots should be particularly alert when ying in
these areas. All activity within an alert area shall be conducted
in accordance with regulations, without waiver. Pilots of
participating aircraft, as well as pilots transiting the area,
shall be equally responsible for collision avoidance.

Figure 8-16. Alert area (A-211).

Figure 8-14. Special use airspace: restricted and MOA examples.

MOA, RANCH HIGH & RANCH MOA and RANCH

MOA). [Figure 8-14] MOA is further dened on sectional
charts with times of operation, altitudes affected, and the
controlling agency frequency for the MOA to contact for
current activity. [Figure 8-15]

Controlled Firing Areas

Controlled ring areas contain military activities, which,
if not conducted in a controlled environment, could be
hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The difference
between controlled ring areas and other special use airspace
is that activities must be suspended when a spotter aircraft,

Figure 8-15. MOA is further defined on sectional charts with times of operation, altitudes

affected, and the controlling agency to contact for current activity.

8-10

radar, or ground lookout position indicates an aircraft might

be approaching the area.
Parachute Jump Areas
Parachute jump areas are published in the Airport/ Facility
Directory (A/FD). Sites that are used frequently are depicted
on sectional charts. Each pilot should listen to the appropriate
airport radio frequency for parachute operations and be
alert for aircraft which might be conducting parachute
operations.

Other Airspace Areas

Other airspace areas is a general term referring to the majority
of the remaining airspace. It includes:

Airport advisory areas

Military training routes (MTRs)

Temporary ight restrictions

(TFRs)

Terminal Radar Service Areas

National security areas

Local Airport Advisory

A local airport advisory is an area within 10 statute miles (SM)
of an airport where a control tower is not operating, but where
a ight service station (FSS) is located. At these locations,
the FSS provides advisory service to arriving and departing
aircraft. See AIM section 3-5-1 for more information on using
the local airport ight station services.
Military Training Routes (MTRs)
National security depends largely on the deterrent effect of
our airborne military forces. To be procient, the military
services must train in a wide range of airborne tactics. One
phase of this training involves low level combat tactics. The
required maneuvers and high speeds are such that they may
occasionally make the see-and-avoid aspect of VFR ight
more difcult without increased vigilance in areas containing
such operations. In an effort to ensure the greatest practical
level of safety for all ight operations, the Military Training
Route (MTR) program was conceived.
These routes are usually established below 10,000 feet MSL
for operations at speeds in excess of 250 knots. Some route
segments may be dened at higher altitudes for purposes of
route continuity. Routes are identied as IFR (IR), and VFR
(VR), followed by a number. MTRs with no segment above
1,500 feet AGL are identied by four numeric characters
(e.g., IR1206, VR1207). MTRs that include one or more
segments above 1,500 feet AGL are identied by three
numeric characters (e.g., IR206, VR207). IFR Low Altitude
En Route Charts depict all IR routes and all VR routes that

accommodate operations above 1,500 feet AGL. IR routes

are conducted in accordance with IFR regardless of weather
conditions.
MTRs are usually indicated with a gray line on the sectional
chart. A WSC aircraft pilot ying in the area of VRs or IRs
should question the briefer during the weather brief to nd
out if any of the routes are in use, and a possible time frame
for opening and closing. While it is true that the WSC aircraft
pilot has the right of way, the WSC aircraft will generally
come out worse in a midair conict with a fast-moving
military aircraft. MTRs, such as the example depicted in
Figure 8-17, are also further dened on sectional charts.

Figure 8-17. MTR chart symbols.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs are put into effect when trafc in the airspace would
endanger or hamper air or ground activities in the designated
area. For example, a forest re, chemical accident, ood, or
disaster-relief effort could warrant a TFR, which would be
issued as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The NOTAM begins
with the phrase FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS followed by the
location, effective time period, area dened in statute miles,
and altitudes affected, which aircraft ying in the area must
avoid. The NOTAM also contains the FAA coordination
facility and telephone number, the reason for the restriction,
and any other information deemed appropriate. The pilot
should check NOTAMs as part of ight planning.
The reasons for establishing a temporary restriction are to:

Protect persons and property in the air or on the surface

from an existing or imminent hazard;

Provide a safe environment for the operation of

disaster relief aircraft;

Prevent unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft

above an incident or event, which may generate a high
degree of public interest;

Protect declared national disasters for humanitarian

reasons;

8-11

Protect the President, Vice President, or other public

gures; and

Flight Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges,

Parks, and Forest Service Areas

Provide a safe environment for space agency

operations.

The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters

administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, or U.S. Forest Service without authorization
from the respective agency. Exceptions include:

It is a pilots responsibility to be aware of TFRs in his or her

proposed area of ight. One way to check is to visit the FAA
website, www.tfr.faa.gov, and verify that there is not a TFR
in the area. Another resource is to ask the ight briefer at
800-WX-BRIEF during the preight brieng.
Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSA)
Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSA) are areas where
participating pilots can receive additional radar services. The
purpose of the service is to provide separation between all
IFR operations and participating VFR aircraft.
The primary airport(s) within the TRSA become(s) Class D
airspace. The remaining portion of the TRSA overlies other
controlled airspace, which is normally Class E airspace
beginning at 700 or 1,200 feet and established to transition to/
from the en route terminal environment. TRSAs are depicted
on VFR sectional charts and terminal area charts with a solid
black line and altitudes for each segment. The Class D portion
is charted with a blue segmented line. Participation in TRSA
services is voluntary; however, pilots operating under VFR
are encouraged to contact the radar approach control and take
advantage of TRSA service. Operations inside the TFR area
must be conducted under the provisions of a waiver. Should
such an operation be contemplated, the WSC aircraft pilot
should consult with the local Flight Service District Ofce
(FSDO) well in advance of the event.
National Security Areas (NSAs)
NSAs consist of airspace with dened vertical and lateral
dimensions established at locations where there is a
requirement for increased security and safety of ground
facilities. Flight in NSAs may be temporarily prohibited
by regulation under the provisions of 14 CFR part 99, and
prohibitions are disseminated via NOTAM.

Published VFR Routes

Published VFR routes are for transitioning around, under, or
through some complex airspace. Terms such as VFR yway,
VFR corridor, Class B airspace, VFR transition route, and
terminal area VFR route have been applied to such routes.
These routes are generally found on VFR terminal area
planning charts.

8-12

1.

When forced to land due to an emergency beyond the

control of the operator;

2.

At ofcially designated landing sites; or

3.

An approved official business of the Federal

Government.

Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of

2,000 feet above the surface of the following: national
parks, monuments, seashores, lakeshores, recreation areas,
and scenic riverways administered by the National Park
Service, National Wildlife Refuges, Big Game Refuges,
Game Ranges, and Wildlife Ranges administered by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and wilderness and primitive areas
administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

WSC Operations
WSC preight planning should include a review of the
airspace that is own. A local ight may be close to the eld
and include only Class G and Class E airspace. Minimum
visibility and cloud clearance may be the only requirements
to be met. However, a radio to communicate to the airport
trafc and an altimeter to y at the proper airport pattern
altitude is recommended.
If ying to control tower airports or through Class B, C, or
D airspace, determine if the WSC meets all of the equipment
requirements of that airspace. [Figure 8-5] Also review
qualications to determine if the minimum pilot requirements
of the airspace are met. If the minimum aircraft and/or pilot
requirements of the airspace are not met, then the preight
planning should include a course around the airspace. Extra
time and fuel is required for the circumnavigation and should
be taken into consideration prior to departure.
WSC and Air Trafc Control
In nontowered airspace, airspace separation from other aircraft
is the responsibility of the pilot. Separation from higher speed
trafc may require ightpaths different than faster trafc.
For ight and communicating with a control tower, the WSC
pilot may be asked to expedite or deviate from a traditional
course. The WSC pilot must work with ATC in advising of

the airspeed and surface wind limitations. Safe operation in

controlled airspace requires that the controller understand
the performance and limits of the WSC aircraft.
Navigating the Airspace
Knowledge of airspace dimensions, requirements to enter
the airspace, and geographical location of the airspace is
the responsibility of all pilots. The current sectional chart
is the primary ofcial tool to determine the airspace ying
within or avoiding.
Pilotage is navigation by reference to landmarks to determine
location and the location of airspace. Pilotage is the best form
of navigation to ensure that you avoid airspace not authorized
to enter. Locating your position on the sectional chart and
locating/identifying the airspace you want to enter/avoid
requires preight planning on the ground and situational
awareness in the air.
For all ights, pilots must be sure to have enough fuel to
complete the ight. For longer cross-country ights, this
requires the pilot to check winds aloft and calculate the
groundspeed for the planned altitude and forecast wind. The
resultant time to the destination and the fuel consumption
determines the fuel required to make the ight. This preight
planning is especially important for slower WSC aircraft
because increased headwind components provide signicant
time increases to get to fuel stops than faster aircraft.
Although 14 CFR section 91.151 requires airplanes to have
at least 30 minutes of reserve fuel for an intended fuel stop;
this minimum is also recommended for WSC aircraft. The
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge chapter on
navigation provides procedures in navigation, plotting a
course, determining groundspeed for the predicted wind,
headings and the required fuel for intended legs of the ight.
For any cross-country ight, a ight log should be used and
the planned groundspeed should be compared to the actual
GPS groundspeed measured in ight. If the GPS groundspeed
is lower than the planned groundspeed, the time en route and
the fuel reserves must be evaluated to assure the WSC aircraft
does not run out of fuel during the ight.

GPS is a very popular form of navigation used by WSC pilots.

The GPS receiver is small, simple to use, and inexpensive
compared to other forms of electronic (radio) navigation.
Simple modes of operation provide actual groundspeed and
time to a waypoint. More sophisticated GPSs have aviation
databases and provide the pilot a considerable amount of
information about airports and airspace. When using GPS
to determine airspace or airport position, boundaries, and/
or information, the aviation database in the GPS may not
exactly match the information as depicted on the sectional
chart. If there is a difference between the sectional chart and
GPS information, the sectional chart should be considered
correct.
A WSC pilot using GPS should ensure that the batteries
are fresh and the aviation database is current. Never rely on
the GPS as a primary navigation system. Pilotage using the
sectional chart is the primary navigation system when ying
beyond visual range of a familiar airport. The GPS is used
only as a backup aid for navigation.
With proper preight planning and constant evaluation of
the planned verses actual ight performance, cross-country
ight is practical in the NAS for WSC pilots.

Chapter Summary
At rst glance, the NAS appears to be a complex arena
in which to operate such a simple aircraft. This chapter
simplies the airspace for the reader, and makes it readily
apparent that it is possible to operate a WSC aircraft safely,
without causing conict.
Simple courtesy and common sense go a long way in airspace
operations. A complete and thorough understanding of the
airspace, combined with good decision-making, will allow
the pilot to do what he or she wishes, with recognition of the
needs of other users of the sky.

8-13

8-14

Chapter 9

Ground Reference
Maneuvers
Introduction
Ground reference maneuvers and their related factors are
used in developing a high degree of pilot skill. Although
most of these maneuvers are not performed in normal
everyday ying, the elements and principles involved are
applicable to performance of the customary pilot operations.
The maneuvers aid the pilot in analyzing the effect of wind
and other forces acting on the aircraft and in developing
a fine control touch, coordination, and the division of
attention necessary for accurate and safe maneuvering of
the aircraft.

9-1

The early part of a pilots training is conducted at relatively

high altitudes for the purpose of developing technique,
knowledge of maneuvers, coordination, feel, and the handling
of the aircraft in general. This training requires that most of
the pilots attention be given to the actual handling of the
aircraft, the results of control pressures on the action, and
attitude of the aircraft.

The radius of the turn and the path of the aircraft over
the ground should be easily noted and changes planned
and effected as circumstances require.

Drift should be easily discernable but should not

overtax the student in making corrections.

Objects on the ground should appear in their proportion

and size.

As soon as the pilot shows prociency in the fundamental

maneuvers, it is necessary that he or she be introduced to
ground reference maneuvers requiring attention beyond
practical application and current knowledge base.

The altitude should be low enough to render any gain

or loss apparent to the student, but not recommended
lower than 400 feet above the highest obstruction
and in no case lower than 500 feet above any person,
vessel, vehicle, or structure.

It should be stressed that during ground reference maneuvers,

it is equally important that previously learned basic ying
technique be maintained. The ight instructor should not allow
any relaxation of the students previous standard of technique
simply because a new factor is added. This requirement
should be maintained throughout the students progress from
maneuver to maneuver. Each new maneuver should embody
some advanced knowledge and include principles of the
preceding maneuver in order to maintain continuity. Each
new skill introduced should build on one already learned so
that orderly, consistent progress can be made.

Maneuvering by Reference to Ground

Objects
Ground track or ground reference maneuvers are performed at
relatively low altitudes while applying wind drift correction
as needed to follow a predetermined track or path over the
ground. These maneuvers are designed to develop the ability
to control the aircraft and to recognize and correct for the
effect of wind, while dividing attention among other matters.
This requires planning ahead of the aircraft, maintaining
orientation in relation to ground objects, ying appropriate
headings to follow a desired ground track, and being
cognizant of other air trafc in the immediate vicinity.
Ground reference maneuvers should be own at an altitude of
approximately 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
The actual altitude will depend on the ability to reach a safe
landing area if there is an engine failure during the maneuver
and the type of air in which the maneuvers are being own.
If there is signicant vertical movement of the air, higher
altitudes should be used to avoid the possibility of ying
below 400 feet AGL, the minimum altitude recommended
in the Practical Test Standards (PTS).
Overall, the following factors should be considered in
determining the appropriate altitudes for ground reference
maneuvers:

9-2

The speed with relation to the ground should not be

so apparent that events happen too rapidly.

During these maneuvers, both the instructor and the student

should be alert for available forced-landing elds. The
area chosen should be away from communities, livestock,
or groups of people to prevent becoming an annoyance or
hazard. Due to the altitudes at which these maneuvers are
performed, there is little time available to search for a suitable
eld for landing in the event the need arises.

Drift and Ground Track Control

Whenever an object is free from the ground, it is affected
by the medium surrounding it. This means that a free object
moves in whatever direction and speed that the medium
moves.
For example, if a powerboat were crossing a still river, the
boat could head directly to a point on the opposite shore
and travel on a straight course to that point without drifting.
However, if the river were owing swiftly, the water current
would require consideration. That is, as the boat progresses
forward on its own power, it must also move upstream at
the same rate the river is moving it downstream. This is
accomplished by angling the boat upstream sufciently to
counteract the downstream ow. If this is done, the boat
follows the desired track across the river from the departure
point directly to the intended destination point. If the boat
is not headed sufciently upstream, it would drift with the
current and run aground at some point downstream on the
opposite bank. [Figure 9-1]
As soon as an aircraft becomes airborne, it is free of ground
friction. Its path is then affected by the air mass in which it is
ying; therefore, the aircraft (like the boat) does not always
track along the ground in the exact direction that it is headed.
When ying with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft aligned
with a road, it may be noted that the aircraft gets closer to or
farther from the road without any turn having been initiated
by the pilot. This would indicate that the air mass is moving
sideward in relation to the aircraft. Since the aircraft is ying

Current

Current

Wind

Wind

Figure 9-1. Wind drift and wind correction angle (crab angle).

within this moving body of air (wind), it moves or drifts with

the air in the same direction and speed, just like the boat
moved with the river current.

headed downwind, the groundspeed is increased. Through

the crosswind portion of a turn, the aircraft must be turned
sufciently into the wind to counteract drift.

When ying straight and level and following a selected ground

track, the preferred method of correcting for wind drift is to
head the aircraft (wind correction angle) sufciently into the
wind to cause the aircraft to move forward into the wind at the
same rate the wind is moving it sideways. Depending on the
wind velocity, this may require a large wind correction angle
or one of only a few degrees. This wind correction angle is also
commonly known as the crab angle. When the drift has been
neutralized, the aircraft follows the desired ground track.

To follow a desired circular ground track, the wind correction

angle must be varied in a timely manner because of the
varying groundspeed as the turn progresses. The faster the
groundspeed, the faster the wind correction angle must be
established; the slower the groundspeed, the slower the wind
correction angle may be established. It can be seen then that
the steepest bank and fastest rate of turn should be made on
the downwind portion of the turn and the shallowest bank
and slowest rate of turn on the upwind portion.

To understand the need for drift correction during ight,

consider a ight with a wind velocity of 20 knots from the
left and 90 to the direction the aircraft is headed. After
1 hour, the body of air in which the aircraft is ying has
moved 20 nautical miles (NM) to the right. Since the aircraft
is moving with this body of air, it too has drifted 20 NM to
the right. In relation to the air, the aircraft moved forward;
but in relation to the ground, it moved forward as well as 20
NM to the right.

The principles and techniques of varying the angle of bank

to change the rate of turn and wind correction angle for
controlling wind drift during a turn are the same for all ground
track maneuvers involving changes in direction of ight.

There are times when the pilot needs to correct for drift
while in a turn. [Figure 9-2] Throughout the turn, the wind
is acting on the aircraft from constantly changing angles. The
relative wind angle and speed govern the time it takes for the
aircraft to progress through any part of a turn. This is due to
the constantly changing groundspeed. When the aircraft is
headed into the wind, the groundspeed is decreased; when

When there is no wind, it should be simple to y along a

ground track with an arc of exactly 180 and a constant
radius because the ightpath and ground track would be
identical. This can be demonstrated by approaching a road
at a 90 angle and, when directly over the road, rolling into
a medium-banked turn. Then, maintaining the same angle of
bank throughout the 180 of turn. [Figure 9-2]
To complete the turn, the rollout should be started at a point
where the wings become level as the aircraft again reaches
the road at a 90 angle and is directly over the road just as the

9-3

Actual ground path

Intended ground path

20 knot wind

No wind

Figure 9-2. Effect of wind during a turn.

turn is completed. This would be possible only if there were

absolutely no wind and if the angle of bank and the rate of
turn remained constant throughout the entire maneuver.

banked turn drifts the aircraft to a point where the line is

re-intercepted, but the 360 turn is completed at a point
downwind from the starting point.

If the turn were made with a constant angle of bank and a wind
blowing directly across the road, it would result in a constant
radius turn through the air. However, the wind effects would
cause the ground track to be distorted from a constant radius
turn or semicircular path. The greater the wind velocity, the
greater the difference between the desired ground track and
the ightpath. To counteract this drift, the ightpath can be
controlled by the pilot in such a manner as to neutralize the
effect of the wind and cause the ground track to be a constant
radius semicircle.

Another reference line which lies directly crosswind may be

selected and the same procedure repeated. If wind drift is not
corrected, the aircraft is headed in the original direction at
the completion of the 360 turn, but has drifted away from
the line a distance dependent on the amount of wind.

The effects of wind during turns can be demonstrated after

selecting a road, railroad, or other ground reference that forms
a straight line parallel to the wind. Fly into the wind directly
over and along the line and then make a turn with a constant
medium angle of bank for 360 of turn. [Figure 9-3] The
aircraft returns to a point directly over the line but slightly
downwind from the starting point, the amount depending on
the wind velocity and the time required to complete the turn.
The path over the ground is an elongated circle, although in
reference to the air it is a perfect circle. Straight ight during
the upwind segment after completion of the turn is necessary
to bring the aircraft back to the starting position.
A similar 360 turn may be started at a specic point over the
reference line, with the aircraft headed directly downwind.
In this demonstration, the effect of wind during the constant
9-4

From these demonstrations, it can be seen where and why

it is necessary to increase or decrease the angle of bank and
the rate of turn to achieve a desired track over the ground.
The principles and techniques involved can be practiced and
evaluated by the performance of the ground track maneuvers
discussed in this chapter.

Rectangular Course
Normally, the rst ground reference maneuver introduced
to the pilot is the rectangular course. Reference Figure 9-4
throughout this rectangular course section. The rectangular
course is a training maneuver in which the ground track
of the aircraft is equidistant from all sides of a selected
rectangular area on the ground. The maneuver simulates the
conditions encountered in an airport trafc pattern. While
performing the maneuver, the altitude and airspeed should
be held constant.
The maneuver assists the student pilot in perfecting:

Practical application of the turn.

Start and finish

No wind

Wind

Wind

Wind

Figure 9-3. Effect of wind during turns.

Exit

Enter 45 to downwind

Downwind

Complete turn at boundary

Turn more than 90

Turn more than 90

Start turn at boundary

No wind correction

ecti
corr
ind

Turn into wind

no w

Wind

Start turn
at boundary

Turn less than 90

Complete turn at boundary

Crosswind
Turn into wind

ction

orre

with

nd c

Trac
k

o wi

Base

Start turn
at boundary

th n

on

k wi

Trac

Complete turn at boundary

roll out with wind
correction established

Complete turn at boundary

roll out with wind
correction established

Turn less than 90

Upwind
No wind correction

Start turn at boundary

Figure 9-4. Rectangular course.

9-5

Division of attention between the ightpath, ground

objects, and the handling of the aircraft.

Timing of the start of a turn so that the turn is fully

established at a denite point over the ground.

Timing of the recovery from a turn so that a denite

ground track is maintained.

Establishing a ground track and determining the

appropriate crab angle.

As for other ground track maneuvers, one of the objectives

is to develop division of attention between the ightpath
and ground references while controlling the aircraft and
watching for other aircraft in the vicinity. Another objective
is to develop recognition of drift toward or away from a
line parallel to the intended ground track. This is helpful in
recognizing drift toward or away from an airport runway
during the various legs of the airport trafc pattern.
For this maneuver, a square or rectangular eld (bound on
four sides by section lines or roads that are approximately
one-half mile in length) should be selected away from other
air trafc. The aircraft should be own parallel to and at a
uniform distance just to the outside of the eld boundaries,
not quite above the boundaries so that the ightpath may be
easily observed from either seat by looking out the side of
the aircraft. The closer the track of the aircraft is to the eld
boundaries, the steeper the bank necessary at the turning
points. The distance of the ground track from the edges of
the eld should be the same regardless of whether the course
is own to the left or right. Turns should be started when
the aircraft is abeam the corner of the eld boundaries, and
the bank normally should not exceed 45. These should be
the determining factors in establishing the distance from the
boundaries for performing the maneuver.
Although the rectangular course may be entered from any
direction, this discussion assumes entry on a downwind.
On the downwind leg, the wind is a tailwind and results in
increased groundspeed. Consequently, the turn onto the next
leg is entered with a fairly fast rate of roll-in with relatively
steep bank. As the turn progresses, the bank angle is reduced
gradually because the tailwind component is diminishing,
resulting in a decreasing groundspeed.
During and after the turn onto this leg (the equivalent of the
base leg in a trafc pattern), the wind tends to drift the aircraft
away from the eld boundary. To compensate for the drift,
the amount of turn is more than 90.
The rollout from this turn must be such that as the wings
become level, the aircraft is turned slightly toward the eld
and into the wind to correct for drift. The aircraft should
9-6

again be the same distance from the eld boundary and at

the same altitude as on other legs. The base leg should be
continued until the upwind leg boundary is being approached.
Once more, the pilot should anticipate drift and turning
radius. Since drift correction was held on the base leg, it is
necessary to turn less than 90 to align the aircraft parallel
to the upwind leg boundary. This turn should be started with
a medium bank angle with a gradual reduction to a shallow
bank as the turn progresses. The rollout should be timed
to assure paralleling the boundary of the eld as the wings
become level. [Figure 9-5]
While the aircraft is on the upwind leg, the next eld boundary
should be observed as it is being approached to plan the turn
onto the crosswind leg. Since the wind is a headwind on this
leg, it reduces the aircrafts groundspeed and tries to drift the
aircraft toward the eld during the turn onto the crosswind
leg. For this reason, the roll-in to the turn must be slow and
the bank relatively shallow to counteract this effect. As the
turn progresses, the headwind component decreases, allowing
the groundspeed to increase. Consequently, the bank angle
and rate of turn are increased gradually to assure that upon
completion of the turn, the crosswind ground track continues
the same distance from the edge of the eld. Completion of
the turn with the wings level should be accomplished at a
point aligned with the upwind corner of the eld.
As the wings are rolled level, the proper drift correction
is established with the aircraft turned into the wind with a
change in heading of less than 90. If the turn has been made
properly, the eld boundary will again be the same distance
as it was in the previous legs. While on the crosswind leg,
the wind correction angle should be adjusted as necessary to
maintain a uniform distance from the eld boundary.
As the next eld boundary is being approached, the pilot
should plan the turn onto the downwind leg. Since a wind
correction angle is being held into the wind and away from the
eld while on the crosswind leg, this next turn requires a turn
of more than 90. Since the crosswind becomes a tailwind,
causing the groundspeed to increase during this turn, the bank
initially should be medium and progressively increased as
the turn proceeds. To complete the turn, the rollout must be
timed so that the wings become level at a point aligned with
the crosswind corner of the eld just as the longitudinal axis
of the aircraft again becomes parallel to the eld boundary.
The distance from the eld boundary should be the same as
from the other sides of the eld.
Usually, drift should not be encountered on the upwind or the
downwind leg, but it may be difcult to nd a situation where
the wind is blowing exactly parallel to the eld boundaries.
This would make it necessary to use a slight wind correction

Figure 9-5. Pilots view coming out of a left turn to straighten out for the rectangular leg on the lower left. The next left turn of the
rectangular course is shown by the red line for reference.

angle on all the legs. It is important to anticipate the turns

to correct for groundspeed, drift, and turning radius. When
the wind is behind the aircraft, the turn must be faster and
steeper; when it is ahead of the aircraft, the turn must be
slower and shallower. These same techniques apply while
ying in airport trafc patterns.
Common errors in the performance of rectangular courses
are:

Failure to adequately clear the area.

Failure to establish proper altitude prior to entry

(typically entering the maneuver while descending).

Failure to establish appropriate wind correction angle,

resulting in drift.

Gaining or losing altitude.

Poor coordination (typically gaining or losing airspeed

during the turns).

Abrupt control usage.

Inability to divide attention adequately between

aircraft control and maintaining ground track.

Improper timing in beginning and recovering from

turns.

Inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft.

S-Turns Across a Road

An S-turn across a road is a practice maneuver in which the
aircrafts ground track describes semicircles of equal radii on
each side of a selected straight line on the ground. Reference
Figure 9-6 throughout this S-turn across the road section. The
straight line may be a road, fence, railroad, or section line
that lies perpendicular to the wind and should be of sufcient
length for making a series of turns. A constant altitude should
be maintained throughout the maneuver.
S-turns across a road present one of the most elementary
problems in the practical application of the turn and in the
correction for wind drift in turns. While the application of this
maneuver is considerably less advanced in some respects than
the rectangular course, it is taught after the student has been
introduced to that maneuver in order that the student may
have a knowledge of the correction for wind drift in straight
ight along a reference line before the student attempts to
correct for drift by playing a turn.

9-7

Moderate Bank
3
Steepest Bank

Shallowest Bank

6
1

Wings Level
4

Wings Level to
Start Maneuver

Steepest Bank
Shallowest Bank

Moderate Bank

Wind

Entry

Figure 9-6. S-Turn.

The objectives of S-turns across a road are to develop

the ability to compensate for drift during turns, orient the
ightpath with ground references, follow an assigned ground
track, arrive at specied points on assigned headings, and
divide the pilots attention. The maneuver consists of crossing
the road at a 90 angle and immediately beginning a series
of 180 turns of uniform radius in opposite directions,
re-crossing the road at a 90 angle just as each 180 turn
is completed. The maneuver can be started with either a
left hand turn or a right hand turn to go in either direction.
Figure 9-6 starts the turn in a left hand turn as an example.

The road should be approached from the upwind side at the

selected altitude on a downwind heading. When directly
over the road, the rst turn should be started immediately.
[Figure 9-6, position 1 and Figure 9-7] With the aircraft
headed downwind, the groundspeed is greatest and the rate
of departure from the road is rapid; the roll into the steep
bank must be fairly rapid to attain the proper wind correction
angle. [Figure 9-6, position 2] This prevents the aircraft from
ying too far from the road and from establishing a ground
track of excessive radius.

Accomplishing a constant radius ground track requires

a changing roll rate and angle of bank to establish the
wind correction angle. Both increase or decrease as the
groundspeed increases or decreases.
The bank must be steepest when beginning the turn on the
downwind side of the road and must be shallowed gradually
as the turn progresses from a downwind heading to an upwind
heading. On the upwind side, the turn should be started with
a relatively shallow bank and then gradually steepened as
the aircraft turns from an upwind heading to a downwind
heading. In this maneuver, the aircraft should be rolled from
one bank directly into the opposite just as the 90 reference
line on the ground is crossed.

Figure 9-7. Pilots view of crossing a reference line (road) at 90

wings level starting the S-turn maneuver.

Before starting the maneuver, a straight ground reference

line or road that lies 90 to the direction of the wind
should be selected, then the area checked to ensure that no
obstructions or other aircraft are in the immediate vicinity.

During the latter portion of the rst 90 turn, when the

aircrafts heading is changing from a downwind heading
to a crosswind heading, the groundspeed becomes
less and the rate of departure from the road decreases.

9-8

Reference Line

[Figure 9-6, position 2 to 3, and Figure 9-8] The wind

correction angle is at the maximum when the aircraft is
headed directly crosswind. [Figure 9-6, position 3]

Reference Line

Figure 9-8. Pilots view in starting semicircle turning left from

downwind to crosswind.

After turning 90, the aircrafts heading becomes more

and more an upwind heading, the groundspeed decreases,
and the rate of closure with the road becomes slower.
If a constant steep bank were maintained, the aircraft
would turn too quickly for the slower rate of closure and
would prematurely be headed perpendicular to the road.
Because of the decreasing groundspeed and rate of closure
while approaching the upwind heading, it is necessary to
gradually shallow the bank during the remaining 90 of the
semicircle, so that the wind correction angle is removed
completely [Figure 9-9] and the wings become level as the
180 turn is completed at the moment the road is reached.
[Figure 9-6, position 4]

low. Therefore, the turn must be started with a shallow bank

to avoid an excessive rate of turn that would establish the
maximum wind correction angle too soon. The degree of bank
should be that which is necessary to attain the proper wind
correction angle so the ground track describes an arc the same
size as the one established on the downwind side.
Since the aircraft is turning from an upwind to a downwind
heading, the groundspeed increases and after turning
90 the rate of closure with the road increases rapidly.
[Figure 9-6, position 5] Consequently, the angle of bank
and rate of turn must be progressively increased so that
the aircraft has turned 180 at the time it reaches the road.
Again, the rollout must be timed so the aircraft is in straightand-level ight directly over and perpendicular to the road.
[Figure 9-6, position 6]
Throughout the maneuver a constant altitude and airspeed
should be maintained, and the bank should be changing
constantly to effect a true semicircular ground track.
Common errors in the performance of S-turns across a road
are:

Failure to adequately clear the area.

Creating too small of a radius/too high of a banked

turn during the start of the maneuver.

Creating banked turns too high to complete the

maneuver.

Poor coordination creating variations in airspeeds.

Gaining or losing altitude.

Inability to visualize the half circle ground track.

Poor timing in beginning and recovering from turns.

Faulty correction for drift.

Inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft.

Inability to judge closure rates to the road and adjust

the bank angle so the semi-circle is completed at 90
to the reference road.

Turns Around a Point

Reference Line

Figure 9-9. Student completing semicircle, preparing to level out

to cross perpendicular to the road.

At the instant the road is being crossed at 90 to it, a turn in

the opposite direction should be started. Since the aircraft is
still ying into the headwind, the groundspeed is relatively

Turns around a point, as a training maneuver, is a logical

extension of the principles involved in the performance of
S-turns across a road. The objectives are to:

Further perfect turning technique.

Perfect the ability to control the aircraft subconsciously

while dividing attention between the ightpath and
ground references.

9-9

Teach the student that the radius of a turn is a distance

that is affected by the degree of bank used when
turning with relation to a denite object.

Develop a keen perception of altitude.

Perfect the ability to correct for wind drift while in

turns.

In turns around a point, the aircraft is own in two or

more complete circles of uniform radii or distance from a
prominent ground reference point using a maximum bank of
approximately 45 while maintaining a constant altitude.
The factors and principles of drift correction that are involved
in S-turns are also applicable in this maneuver. As in other
ground track maneuvers, a constant radius around a point
requires a constantly changing angle of bank and angles of
wind correction if any wind exists. The closer the aircraft is to
a direct downwind heading where the groundspeed is greatest,
the steeper the bank and the faster the rate of turn required to
establish the proper wind correction angle. The more nearly it
is to a direct upwind heading where the groundspeed is least,
the shallower the bank and the slower the rate of turn required
to establish the proper wind correction angle. Throughout the
maneuver, the bank and rate of turn must be varied gradually
in proportion to the groundspeed.
The point selected for turns around a point should be prominent,
easily distinguished by the pilot, and yet small enough to
present precise reference. [Figures 9-10 through 9-12]
Isolated trees, crossroads, or other similar small landmarks

are usually suitable. Right and left hand turns about a point
should be practiced to develop technique in both directions.
The example used here is right hand turns.
To enter turns around a point, the aircraft should be own
on a downwind heading to one side of the selected point
at a distance equal to the desired radius of turn. When any
signicant wind exists, it will be necessary to roll into the
initial bank at a rapid rate so that the steepest bank is attained
abeam of the point when the aircraft is headed directly
downwind. By entering the maneuver while heading directly
downwind, the steepest bank can be attained immediately.
Thus, if a maximum bank of 45 is desired, the initial bank
is 45 if the aircraft is at the correct distance from the point.
Thereafter, the bank is shallowed gradually until the point is
reached at which the aircraft is headed directly upwind. At
this point, the bank should be gradually steepened until the
steepest bank is again attained when heading downwind at
the initial point of entry.
Just as S-turns require that the aircraft be turned into the wind
in addition to varying the bank, so do turns around a point.
During the downwind half of the circle, the aircrafts nose is
progressively turned toward the inside of the circle; during
the upwind half, the nose is progressively turned toward the
outside. The downwind half of the turn around the point may
be compared to the downwind side of the S-turn across a road;
the upwind half of the turn around a point may be compared
to the upwind side of the S-turn across a road.

Wind

Entry

d Half of Ci
rcl
win
e
Up

Shallowest Bank

Steepest Bank

Do
wn

Figure 9-10. Turns around a point.

9-10

le
wind H lf of Circ
a

Figure 9-11. Downwind portion of turn about a point, which is the gazebo jutting out into the lake. Notice the wing is low on the downwind
portion where the angle of bank is greatest.

Figure 9-12. Upwind portion of the turn about a point. Notice the wing is higher because bank angle is not at as steep during the upwind

portion headed into the wind to maintain a constant radius circle.

9-11

As the pilot becomes experienced in performing turns

around a point and has a good understanding of the effects
of wind drift and varying the bank angle and wind correction
angle as required, entry into the maneuver may be from any
point. When entering the maneuver at a point other than
downwind, however, the radius of the turn should be carefully
selected. Be sure to take into account the wind velocity and
groundspeed so that an excessive bank is not required later
on to maintain the proper ground track. The ight instructor
should place particular emphasis on the effect of an incorrect
initial bank.

Chapter Summary

Common errors in the performance of turns around a point

are:

These are training maneuvers that should be mastered to

within the tolerances in the PTS.

Failure to clear the area adequately.

Failure to establish appropriate bank on entry.

Failure to recognize wind drift.

Inadequate bank angle and/or inadequate wind

correction angle on the downwind portion of the circle,
resulting in drift away from the reference point.

Excessive bank and/or inadequate wind correction

angle on the upwind side of the circle, resulting in
drift towards the reference point.

Gaining or losing altitude.

Inability to maintain a constant airspeed.

Inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft.

Inability to direct attention outside the aircraft while

maintaining precise aircraft control.

9-12

Ground reference maneuvers and related factors are used

in developing a high degree of pilot skill in analyzing the
effect of wind and other forces acting on the aircraft for
accurate and safe maneuvering of the aircraft. The specic
maneuvers are:

Rectangular course,

S-turns across a road, and

Turns about a point.

Chapter 10

Airport Trafc Patterns

Introduction
Just as roads and streets are needed in order to facilitate
automobile trafc, airports are needed to facilitate aircraft
trafc. Every ight begins and ends at an airport. An airport,
as dened by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) section 1.1, is an area of land or water that is
used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of
aircraft. For this reason, it is essential pilots learn the trafc
rules, procedures, and patterns that may be in use at various
airports.
When an automobile is driven on congested city streets, it
can be brought to a stop to give way to conicting trafc;
however, an aircraft can only be slowed down. Consequently,
specic trafc patterns and trafc control procedures have
been established at designated airports. Trafc patterns
provide specic routes for takeoffs, departures, arrivals,
and landings. The exact nature of each airport traffic
pattern is dependent on the runway in use, wind conditions,
obstructions, and other factors.

10-1

Airport Operations
Airports vary in complexity from small grass or sod
strips to major terminals having multiple paved runways
and taxiways. Regardless of the type of airport, the pilot
must know and abide by the rules and general operating
procedures applicable to the airport being used. These rules
and procedures are based not only on logic or common sense
but also on courtesy, and their objective is to keep air trafc
moving with maximum safety and efciency. The use of
any trafc pattern, service, or procedure does not alter the
responsibility of pilots to see and avoid other aircraft.
Generally, there are two types of airport operations:

Uncontrolled airports where there is no control

tower

Controlled airports where there is a control tower with

an air trafc controller

Airport operations is a prerequisite for reading and

understanding this chapter. The Pilots Handbook of
Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25) chapter on
airport operations is the starting point for this subject.
Additionally, the portions of the Aeronautical Information
Manual (AIM) covering aeronautical lighting and other
airport visual aids, airspace, and air trafc control, should
be studied prior to reading this chapter.
The following airport patterns are applicable to both towered
and nontowered airport operations; however, in nontowered
airports the pilot should use the information presented in this
chapter along with the references provided in the summary to
coordinate with the other air trafc. When ying at towered
airports, the principles must be understood to understand
the air trafc controllers instructions. The pilot is always
responsible for see and avoid and must continually look
for other aircraft in towered and nontowered operations.

Standard Airport Trafc Patterns

To assure that air trafc ows into and out of an airport in
an orderly manner, an airport trafc pattern is established
appropriate to the local conditions, including the direction
and placement of the pattern, altitude to be own, and
procedures for entering and leaving the pattern. Unless the
airport displays approved visual markings indicating that
turns should be made to the right, pilots should make all
turns in the pattern to the left.
When operating at an airport with an operating control tower,
the pilot receives by radio a clearance to approach or depart,
as well as pertinent information about the trafc pattern. If
there is not a control tower, it is the pilots responsibility to
determine the direction of the trafc pattern, to comply with
10-2

the appropriate trafc rules, and to display common courtesy

toward other pilots operating in the area.
The pilot is not expected to have extensive knowledge of
all trafc patterns at all airports; but if the pilot is familiar
with the basic rectangular pattern, it is easy to make proper
approaches and departures from most airports, regardless of
whether they have control towers. At airports with operating
control towers, the tower operator may instruct pilots to
enter the trafc pattern at any point or to make a straightin approach without ying the usual rectangular pattern.
Many other deviations are possible if the tower operator and
the pilot work together in an effort to keep trafc moving
smoothly. Jets or heavy aircraft frequently y wider and/or
higher patterns than lighter aircraft and in many cases make
a straight-in approach for landing.
The standard rectangular traffic pattern and terms are
illustrated in Figure 10-1. The terms of an airport in the
pattern after takeoff are described in Figure 10-1.
Departure legthe ightpath which begins after takeoff
and continues straight ahead along the extended runway
centerline.
Crosswind lega ightpath at right angles to the landing
runway off its takeoff end.
Downwind lega ightpath parallel to the landing runway
in the opposite direction of landing.
Base lega ightpath at right angles to the landing runway
off its approach end and extending from the downwind leg
to the intersection of the extended runway centerline (third
left hand 90 turn).
Final approacha ightpath in the direction of landing
along the extended runway centerline from the base leg to
the runway.
Upwind lega ightpath parallel to the landing runway in
the direction of landing (not shown in Figure 10-1).
The trafc pattern altitude is usually 1,000 feet above the
elevation of the airport surface; however, many airports use
different pattern altitudes for different types of aircraft. This
information can be found in the Airport/Facility Directory
(A/FD). The use of a common or known altitude at a given
airport is a key factor in minimizing the risk of collisions at
airports without operating control towers because aircraft can
be expected to be at a certain level making it easier to see.

IN

Crosswind

Entry

18

Left-Hand Traffic Pattern

Downwind
Departure

36

Final

Base

Crosswind

Entry
18

Right-Hand Traffic Pattern

Departure
Downwind

36

Final

Base

Figure 10-1. Left and right hand traffic patterns. The WSC pattern altitude shown is the same as the airplane but the slower WSC aircraft

uses a smaller inside pattern or tight pattern.

10-3

Compliance with the basic rectangular trafc pattern reduces

the possibility of conicts at airports without an operating
control tower. It is imperative that the pilot form the habit of
exercising constant vigilance in the vicinity of airports even
though the air trafc appears to be light. The objective is to
have both the fast and the slower weight-shift control (WSC)
aircraft completing the pattern at the same interval.
The slower the aircraft is, the tighter the pattern is, as shown
in Figure 10-1. The terminology is a tight pattern or inside
pattern for the slower WSC aircraft in operations with faster
aircraft. Using Figure 10-1 as an example, if the airplane is
ying the pattern at 80 knots and the WSC aircraft is ying
an inside pattern at 40 knots (that is half the distance), then
the WSC aircraft and the airplane will y around the pattern
with the same interval. The WSC pilot must determine
the size of the pattern to create the same interval. This is
commonplace at nontowered airports where WSC aircraft
operate with faster aircraft. Both aircraft are going around
the pattern at the same time with the slower WSC aircraft
ying a tighter pattern and the faster airplane ying the larger
pattern. In Figure 10-2, the WSC aircraft is establishing an
inside airport pattern turning from crosswind to downwind.
In Figure 10-3, the aircraft shown is in the middle of the
downwind leg ying an inside pattern.

When entering the trafc pattern at an airport without an

operating control tower, inbound pilots are expected to
listen to the other aircraft on the CTAF (Common Trafc
Advisory Frequency), observe other aircraft already in the
pattern, and conform to the trafc pattern in use. If other
aircraft are not in the pattern, then trafc indicators on the
ground and wind indicators must be checked to determine
which runway and trafc pattern direction should be used.
[Figure 10-4 and 10-5] Many airports have L-shaped trafc
pattern indicators displayed with a segmented circle adjacent
to the runway. The short member of the L shows the direction
in which trafc pattern turns should be made when using
the runway parallel to the long member. These indicators
should be checked while at a distance away from any pattern
that might be in use, or while at a safe height above pattern
altitudes. When the proper trafc pattern direction has been
determined, the pilot should then proceed to a point clear of
the pattern before descending to the pattern altitude.

Takeoff
Departure Climb

Downwind

Crosswind

Figure 10-2. After takeoff and departure, turning from the crosswind to the downwind leg while climbing to pattern altitude.

10-4

Takeoff
Departure Climb

Downwind

Crosswind

Figure 10-3. Weight-shift control on the downwind leg of an airport inside pattern.

Traffic Pattern
Indicators Show
Base Leg of
Traffic Pattern

Segmented Circle
Runway
Wind Cone
Showing Best
Pattern Direction

Figure 10-4. Left hand pattern for runway in both directions.

10-5

As discussed earlier, all patterns are left hand unless indicated

otherwise. Sectional aeronautical charts list a right hand
pattern along with the airport information as shown in
Figure 10-6. The segmented circle of Figure 10-5 and the
airport shown in Figure 10-6 both clearly show the patterns
for this airport.

Inbound to an uncontrolled airport, the CTAF frequency

should be monitored to listen for other aircraft in the pattern
to nd out what is the active runway being used by other air
trafc. [Figure 10-8]
When approaching an airport for landing, the trafc pattern
should be entered at a 45 angle to the downwind leg, headed
toward a point abeam of the midpoint of the runway to be
used for landing as shown in Figures 10-1 and 10-7. Arriving
aircraft should be at the proper trafc pattern altitude before
entering the pattern and should stay clear of the trafc
ow until established on the entry leg. Entries into trafc
patterns while descending create specic collision hazards
and should always be avoided. During the WSC 45 entry
into the pattern, the WSC aircraft must pass through the
larger airplane pattern, so it is essential that alert see-andavoid procedures plus additional radio communications be
practiced during this transition.
The entry leg should be of sufcient length to provide a
clear view of the entire trafc pattern and to allow the pilot
adequate time for planning the intended path in the pattern
and the landing approach.

Figure 10-5. Left hand pattern for one direction and right hand

pattern for other direction.

Figure 10-6. Example of traffic pattern indicator on sectional

showing right hand pattern for runway 9. See Figure 10-5 for
segmented circle for this airport.

A segmented circle in Figure 10-7 provides trafc patterns

so there is no air trafc over the lower right hand area, which
could be a hazard or populated area.

10-6

The downwind leg is a course own parallel to the landing

runway but in a direction opposite to the intended landing
direction. This leg for the slower WSC aircraft should be
approximately to mile out from the landing runway,
and at the specied trafc pattern altitude unless the airport
specically species a lower altitude for WSC aircraft.
[Figure 10-9] The faster airplanes would be to 1 mile
out from the landing runway. During this leg, the before
landing check should be completed. Pattern altitude should
be maintained until abeam the approach end of the landing
runway. At this point, power should be reduced and a descent
begun. The downwind leg continues past a point abeam the
approach end of the runway to a point approximately 45
from the approach end of the runway, and a medium bank
turn is made onto the base leg.
The base leg is the transitional part of the trafc pattern
between the downwind leg and the final approach leg.
Depending on the wind condition, it is established at a
sufcient distance from the approach end of the landing
runway to permit a gradual descent to the intended touchdown
point. The ground track of the aircraft while on the base leg
should be perpendicular to the extended centerline of the
landing runway, although the longitudinal axis of the aircraft
may not be aligned with the ground track when it is necessary
to turn into the wind to counteract drift. While on the base
leg and before turning onto the nal approach, the pilot must
ensure that there is no danger of colliding with another aircraft

Application of Traffic Pattern Indicators

LEGEND
ry

En

Recommended Standard Left-Hand Traffic

Pattern (depicted)
(Standard right-hand traffic pattern would be mirror image)

Downwind

Base

Crosswind

Segmented Circle

Final

Departure

RUNWAY

re

tu

r
pa

Departure

Base Leg
Traffic Pattern Indicators

No Patterns Here
Because of Hazard or
Populated Area

Landing Direction Indicator

Wind Cone

Landing Runway (or Landing Strip Indicators)

Figure 10-7. An airport with two runways and a hazard, noise sensitive, or populated area to the lower right where the segmented circle

specifies traffic not to fly over this area.

Figure 10-8. Approaching a busy airport with multiple runways and

listening to the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) for

the pattern being used because of the wind conditions.

Figure 10-9. After hearing other aircraft using the normal pattern as
described in the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), pilot descended
and entered the downwind leg (landing runway highlighted in
red) midfield within gliding distance of the runway in case of an
engine failure.

10-7

that may be on the nal approach. This is especially important

since the WSC aircraft is in a tighter pattern and could be
ying onto the nal approach of faster airplanes.

As stipulated in 14 CFR part 91, aircraft while on nal

approach to land or while landing have the right-of-way over
other aircraft in ight or operating on the surface. When two
or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of
landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right of way.
A pilot should not take advantage of this rule to cut in front
of or overtake another aircraft on nal approach.
The departure leg of the rectangular pattern is a straight
course aligned with, and leading from, the takeoff runway.
This leg begins at the point the aircraft leaves the ground
and continues until the 90 turn onto the crosswind leg is
started. On the departure leg after takeoff, the pilot should
continue climbing straight ahead, and, if remaining in the
trafc pattern, commence a turn to the crosswind leg beyond
the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern
altitude. If departing the trafc pattern, continue straight out
or exit with a 45 turn (to the left when in a left-hand trafc
pattern; to the right when in a right-hand trafc pattern)
beyond the departure end of the runway after reaching
pattern altitude.
An upwind leg is a course own parallel to the landing
runway, but in the same direction as the intended landing
direction. The upwind leg continues past a point abeam the
departure end of the runway to where a medium bank 90
turn is made onto the crosswind leg. The upwind leg is also
the transitional part of the trafc pattern when on the nal
approach and a go-around is initiated and climb attitude is
established. When a safe altitude is attained, the pilot should
commence a shallow bank turn to the right side of the runway.
This allows better visibility of the runway for departing
aircraft. [Figure 10-10]
The crosswind leg is the part of the rectangular pattern that is
horizontally perpendicular to the extended centerline of the
takeoff runway and is entered by making approximately a 90
turn from the departure or upwind leg. On the crosswind leg,
the aircraft proceeds to the downwind leg position.

10-8

Crosswind Leg

Base Leg

The nal approach leg is a descending ightpath starting

from the completion of the base-to-nal turn and extending to
the point of touchdown. This is probably the most important
leg of the entire pattern because the pilots judgment and
procedures must be the sharpest to control the airspeed and
descent angle accurately while approaching the intended
touchdown point.

Downwind Leg

Direction of Landing
RUNWAY

Final Approach

Departure
Upwind Leg

Figure 10-10. Upwind leg.

In most cases, the takeoff is made into the wind in which

case it is now approximately perpendicular to the aircrafts
ightpath. As a result, the aircraft has to be turned or headed
slightly into the wind while on the crosswind leg to maintain
a ground track that is perpendicular to the runway centerline
extension.

Chapter Summary
Airport patterns provide organized air trafc ows into and
out of an airport. An airport trafc pattern is established
appropriate to the local conditions, including the direction and
placement of the pattern, altitude to be own, and procedures
for entering and leaving the pattern.
The legs of an airport pattern from takeoff are:

Departuredirection of takeoff on the centerline of

the runway

Crosswindrst 90 turn ying perpendicular to the

takeoff direction

Downwindsecond 90 turn ying parallel to the

takeoff direction opposite the direction of takeoff and
landing

Basethird 90 turn ying perpendicular towards the

runway centerline

Finalforth 90 turn headed down the centerline of

the runway to land

Pilots must research and determine from preight preparation

the possible runways and patterns for runways at the intended
airports for the ight. The pilot must determine the actual
pattern at the airport from observation and talking with other
pilots on the CTAF or from the wind direction if no other
pilots are in the pattern. Normal airport patterns are always
left hand unless indicated otherwise.

Additional information on airport operations can be found

in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge,
the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Chapter 2,
Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids, Chapter
4, Air Trafc Control, and Chapter 5, Air Trafc Procedures;
and 14 CFR part 91, Subpart B, Flight Rules, Subpart C,
Equipment, Instrument and Certicate Requirements, and
Subpart D, Special Flight Operations.

10-9

10-10

Chapter 11

Approaches and Landings

Introduction
Approaches and landings are critical maneuvers and require
the skills built from basic ight maneuvers, ground reference
maneuvers, and airport trafc patterns. A proper approach is
required for a proper roundout and touchdown. With the large
number of environmental variables the pilot must consider,
in addition to the skill to judge aircraft speed, descent rate,
and distance above the ground, landing is normally the last
basic maneuver the student learns before solo.
Approaches and landings will be rst discussed with the
fundamentals of a normal approach and landing in calm
winds on a large hard-surfaced runway. This will provide the
basis for specic power-on, crosswind, and steep approach
maneuvers, as well as other types of approaches and landings
that WSC commonly encounter.

11-1

Normal (Calm Wind) Approaches and

Landings
A normal or regular approach and landing involves the use
of procedures for what is considered a simple situation. It
provides the minimum number of variables for the student
pilot to learn during the rst landings; that is, when engine
power is at idle, wind is light, and the nal approach is
made directly into the wind, the nal approach path has no
obstacles, and the landing surface is rm and of ample length
to bring the aircraft gradually to a stop. This includes normal
runways used for WSC that are asphalt, concrete, solid dirt,
gravel or short grass. The selected landing point should be
beyond the runways approach threshold but within the rst
one-third portion of the runway.
The factors involved and the procedures described for the
normal approach and landing also have applications to
the other-than-normal approaches and landings which are
discussed later in this chapter. Therefore, the principles of
simple (or normal) operations are explained rst and must be
understood before proceeding to more complex operations.
To assist the pilot in understanding the factors that inuence
judgment and procedures, the last part of the approach pattern
and the actual landing is divided into ve phases:

Base leg

Final approach

Roundout

Touchdown

After-landing roll

Remember that the manufacturers recommended procedures,

including aircraft conguration, airspeeds, power, and other
information relevant to approaches and landings in a specic
make and model aircraft are contained in the Aircraft Flight
Manual (AFM) and/or Pilots Operating Handbook (POH)
for that aircraft. If any of the information in this chapter
differs from the aircraft manufacturers recommendations
as contained in the AFM/POH, the aircraft manufacturers
recommendations take precedence.
Throttle Use
As discussed in Chapter 2, Aerodynamics, the WSC aircraft
has a good glide ratio, and normal landings can easily be
done with the power at idle. It is a good practice to master
the landings with the throttle at idle so that the glide angle,
speeds, and descent rates become habit and part of a normal
routine. This is helpful so that, if there is an engine failure,
the pilot is accustomed to landing with minimum power and
is able to spot land the WSC aircraft for emergency conditions
at or beyond a specied point. As a general practice for
11-2

normal landings in calm conditions or a slight headwind,

the throttle should be brought back to idle at the start of the
base leg for landings.
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), section
91.119, Minimum Safe Altitudes: General, is an important
safety precaution and states: Except when necessary
for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft
anywhere below... an altitude allowing, if a power unit fails,
an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or
property on the surface. This allows long nal approaches
with power when necessary, but overall, it is important to
be no lower than an altitude from which you can glide to a safe
landing area. For the purposes of this approach-and-landing
discussion, it is assumed that there are no safe landing areas
other than the runway.
It should be noted that the power is above idle for some
landing situations, such as:

Students rst learning to land; a slower rate of descent

is the result of higher power settings. In this case, the
landings would be done with a target farther down the
runway so a safe landing could always be made with
engine failure.

Shallower descent angle if directed by air trafc control

(ATC), or a longer nal approach is required.

High winds and/or turbulent conditions requiring a

higher energy level.

For landings where throttle is required, the foot throttle is

typically used so the hands can stay on the control bar while
approaching the ground for this critical phase of ight.
However, the hand/cruise throttle may be set above idle for
specic situations as required by the pilot. Higher power
settings for approaches and landings are discussed later in
this chapter.
Base Leg
The placement of the base leg is one of the more important
judgments made by the pilot in any landing approach.
[Figure 11-1] The pilot must accurately judge the altitude
and distance from which the descent results in landing at
the desired point.
The base leg should be started at a point where the power
can be brought back to idle and the WSC aircraft can glide to
the landing spot at the approach speed recommended by the
manufacturer. The intended landing point should not be at the
end of the runway on a threshold or numbers, but beyond at
the landing lines. [Figure 11-2] This provides some margin
if the landing is shorter than anticipated. For smaller runways
that do not have these markings, establish an appropriate

18

36

Figure 11-1. Base leg and final approach.

landing point beyond the start of the runway, allowing plenty

of room for the after-landing roll. At much larger airports, the
landing can be done farther down the runway or at a location
where the pilot can taxi off the runway and not delay other
air trafc behind the aircraft.
After turning onto the base leg, the pilot should continue
the descent with reduced power and approach airspeed as
recommended by the manufacturer. As discussed in Chapter
7, Takeoff and Departure, this speed is at least 1.3 times the
stall speed. Landing trim should be adjusted according to
manufacturer specications (if equipped).
Drift correction should be established and maintained to follow
a ground track perpendicular to the extension of the centerline
of the runway on which the landing is to be made. Since the
nal approach and landing are normally made into the wind,
there may be a crosswind during the base leg. The aircraft must
be angled sufciently into the wind to prevent drifting farther
away from the intended landing point.
The base leg should be continued to the point where a
medium- to shallow-banked turn aligns the aircrafts path
directly with the centerline of the landing runway. This
descending turn should be completed at a safe altitude that is
dependent upon the height of the terrain and any obstructions
along the ground track. The turn to the nal approach should
also be sufciently above the airport elevation to permit a

Aiming Point for Landings

Figure 11-2. Typical landing position on runway.

11-3

nal approach long enough for the pilot to accurately estimate

the resultant point of touchdown, while maintaining the
proper approach airspeed. This requires careful planning
for the starting point and radius of the turn. [Figure 11-3]
Normally, it is recommended that the angle of bank not
exceed a medium bank because the steeper the angle of bank,
the higher the airspeed at which the aircraft stalls. Since the
base-to-nal turn is made at a relatively low altitude, it is
important that a stall not occur at this point. If an extremely
steep bank is needed to prevent overshooting the proper nal
approach path, it is advisable to discontinue the approach, go
around, and plan to start the turn earlier on the next approach
rather than risk a hazardous situation.

to maintain the descent angle at the desired approach

airspeed.
The descent angle should be controlled throughout the
approach so that the aircraft lands in the center of the runway
at the aiming point, as discussed earlier. The descent angle is
affected by all four fundamental forces that act on an aircraft
(lift, drag, thrust, and weight). If all the forces are constant,
the descent angle is constant in calm air. The pilot can control
these forces by adjusting the airspeed and power. The nal
approach sequence is shown in Figures 11-4 through 11-8.

Runway

Figure 11-4. Turning from base onto final.

Figure 11-3. On base preparing to turn onto final.

Final Approach
After the base-to-final approach turn is completed, the
aircraft should be aligned directly in the extension of the
centerline of the runway. The objective of a good nal
approach is to approach the runway with sufcient energy
(manufacturers recommended airspeed) to land at or
beyond some predetermined point. The landing area should
provide sufcient runway behind for variations in approach
conditions and runway ahead to allow either a full stop or a
go-around if needed.
If there is a crosswind of any kind, the aircraft should be
pointed into the wind slightly (see the Crosswind Approaches
and Landings section). Focus should be to keep the ground
track aligned with the centerline of the runway or landing
surface, so that drift (if any) is recognized immediately. On
a normal approach, with no crosswind drift, the longitudinal
axis should be kept aligned with the runway centerline
throughout the approach and landing.
After aligning the aircraft with the runway centerline, speed
is adjusted as required for the desired rate of descent. Slight
increases in power, if lower than expected, may be necessary

11-4

Figure 11-5. Lining up on the runway centerline and maintaining

position.

In a descent for nal approach, if the WSC is slowed with

an angle of attack that is too high and without an increase
of power, the aircraft settles very rapidly and touches down
short of the desired area. For this reason, the pilot should
never try to stretch a glide by applying forward control bar
pressure alone to reach the desired landing area. Because this
brings the speed below the minimum drag speed, the gliding
distance decreases if power is not added simultaneously.

required. Steeper descent angles are obtained with headwinds

or the pilot increasing speed/decreasing the angle of attack,
both of which are covered later in this chapter.

Figure 11-6. Coming to the runway and increasing speed slightly

Estimating Height and Movement

During the nal approach, roundout, and touchdown, vision is
of prime importance. To provide a wide scope of vision and
to foster good judgment of height and movement, the pilots
head should assume a natural, straight-ahead position. The
pilots visual focus should not be xed on any one side or
any one spot ahead of the aircraft. The pilot should maintain
a deliberate awareness of the runway centerline (if available)
or distance from either side of the runway within his or her
peripheral eld of vision.

within 50 feet of the ground.

Accurate estimation of distance is, besides being a matter of

practice, dependent upon how clearly objects are seen; vision
must be focused properly so that important objects stand out
as clearly as possible. Speed blurs objects at close range. For
example, one can note this effect in an automobile moving
at high speed. Nearby objects seem to merge together in a
blur, while objects farther away stand out clearly. The driver
subconsciously focuses the eyes sufciently far ahead of the
automobile to see objects distinctly.
The distance at which the pilots vision is focused should be
proportionate to the speed at which the aircraft is traveling
over the ground. Thus, as speed is reduced during the
roundout, the focus distance ahead of the aircraft should be
decreased accordingly.
Figure 11-7. Maintaining speed and position over the middle of

the runway.

Figure 11-8. Starting the roundout by increasing angle of attack

(AOA) slightly at about 10 to 15 feet above the runway.

Additionally, this is a lower energy approach and may be

slower than the manufacturers safe approach speed. The
proper angle of descent to the runway must be maintained at
the minimum speed recommended by the manufacturer, with
a atter descent angle obtained with increases in power as

If the pilot attempts to focus on a reference that is too close

or looks directly down, the reference is blurred, and the
reaction is either too abrupt or too late. In this case, the
pilots tendency is to overcontrol, round out high, and make a
stalled, drop-in landing. When the pilot focuses too far ahead,
accuracy in judging the closeness of the ground is lost and
the consequent reaction is too slow since there is no apparent
necessity for action. This results in the aircraft ying into the
ground nose rst without a proper roundout.
The best way to recognize and become accustomed to heights
and speeds for a particular WSC aircraft is to perform low
passes over the runway, as discussed earlier, with energy
management. Perform a normal approach rst, then a highenergy pass at a higher speed, and then medium-energy
passes at lower speeds. These exercises are performed rst
in calm winds at a height, as an example, at which the wheels
are 10 feet above the runway, then lowering to just inches
above the runway as the pilots skills build. The objective
is to become procient at ying straight down the runway
centerline at a constant altitude. This exercise provides the

11-5

opportunity to determine height and speed over the runway

before any landings are performed. These should generally
be performed in mild conditions. Higher energy and greater
heights above the runway are required in windier and bumpier
conditions.
Roundout (Flare)
The roundout is a slow, smooth transition from a normal
approach speed to a landing attitude, gradually rounding out
the ightpath to one that is parallel with, and within a very
few inches above, the runway. When the aircraft, in a normal
descent, approaches within what appears to be 10 to 15 feet
above the ground, the roundout or are should be started and
be a continuous process slowing until the aircraft touches
down on the ground.
It should be noted that the terms roundout and are are
dened and used interchangeably throughout the aviation
industry for slowing the aircraft during nal approach and
touching down. The term roundout is used in this handbook
since it provides a better description for the WSC landing
process and WSC students are more successful learning
landings using the term roundout instead of are.
As the aircraft reaches a height where the back wheels are one
to two inches above the ground, the roundout is continued
by gradually pushing the control bar forward as required to
maintain one to two inches above the runway as the WSC
aircraft slows. [Figure 11-9] This causes the aircrafts
nosewheel to gradually rise to the desired landing attitude.
The AOA should be increased at a rate that allows the aircraft
to continue ying just above the runway as forward speed
decreases until the control bar is full forward and the back
wheels settle onto the runway.

During the roundout, the airspeed is decreased to touchdown

speed while the lift is controlled so the aircraft settles gently
onto the landing surface. The roundout should be executed
at a rate at which the proper landing attitude and the proper
touchdown airspeed are attained simultaneously just as the
wheels contact the landing surface.
The rate at which the roundout is executed depends on the
aircrafts height above the ground, the rate of descent, and
the airspeed. A roundout started excessively high must be
executed more slowly than one from a lower height to allow
the aircraft to descend to the ground while the proper landing
attitude is being established. The rate of rounding out must
also be proportionate to the rate of closure with the ground.
When the aircraft appears to be descending very slowly, the
increase in pitch attitude (slowing of the WSC) must be made
at a correspondingly low rate.
Visual cues are important in roundout at the proper altitude and
maintaining the wheels a few inches above the runway until
eventual touchdown. Roundout cues are dependent primarily
on the angle at which the pilots central vision intersects the
ground (or runway) ahead and slightly to the side. Proper
depth perception is a factor in a successful roundout, but the
visual cues used most are those related to changes in runway or
terrain perspective and to changes in the size of familiar objects
near the landing area such as fences, bushes, trees, hangars,
and even sod or runway texture. The pilot should direct central
vision at a shallow downward angle of 10 to 15 toward the
runway as the roundout is initiated. [Figure 11-10]
Maintaining the same viewing angle causes the point of
visual interception with the runway to move progressively
rearward toward the pilot as the aircraft loses altitude. This is
an important visual cue in assessing the rate of altitude loss.

Start to Increase
Angle of Attack
Continue to Increase
Angle of Attack

Approach Speed
Start moving control
bar forward to
decrease speed

Continue to move
control bar forward
to decrease speed

Continue to Increase
Angle of Attack

Continue to move
control bar forward
to decrease speed

Continue to Increase
Angle of Attack

Continue to move
control bar forward
to decrease speed
until touchdown

Start roundout about 15 feet above ground

34
1 inch

Touchdown

Figure 11-9. Changing angle of attack during roundout by slowly and continuously pushing forward on the control bar until

touchdown.

11-6

25
10 to 15

Figure 11-10. To obtain necessary visual cues, the pilot should look toward the runway at a shallow angle.

Conversely, forward movement of the visual interception

point indicates an increase in altitude and would mean
that the pitch angle was increased too rapidly resulting in
an over roundout. The following are also used to judge
when the wheels are just a few inches above the runway:
location of the visual interception point in conjunction with
assessment of ow velocity of nearby off-runway terrain,
and the similarity in appearance of height above the runway
ahead of the aircraft to the way it looked when the aircraft
was taxied prior to takeoff.
A common error during the roundout is rounding out too much
and too fast. This error can easily be avoided by gradually
increasing the AOA with a controlled descent until the wheels
are one inch above the surface and never climbing during a
roundout with a gradual and controlled roundout.
Touchdown
After a controlled roundout, the touchdown is the gentle
settling of the aircraft onto the landing surface. For calm
air conditions, the roundout can be made with the engine
idling, and touchdown can be made at minimum controllable
airspeed so that the aircraft touches down on the main gear
at the approximate stalling speed. As the aircraft settles, the
proper landing attitude is attained by application of whatever
control bar forward pressure is necessary. In calm wind
conditions, the goal is to round out smoothly and have the
control bar touch the front tube as the back wheels touch the
ground. [Figures 11-11 through 11-14] Once the rear wheel
settles to the surface, the nosewheel settles to the ground. The
control bar should be pulled all the way back to eliminate
the possibility of lifting off the ground because of a wind
gust. Pulling the nose down completely can also be used for
aerodynamic braking if needed.
After-Landing Roll
The landing process must never be considered complete
until the aircraft decelerates to normal taxi speed during the

Figure 11-11. Maintaining speed from final approach in the center

of the runway at about 20 feet above the runway.

Figure 11-12. Starting the roundout at about 10 to 15 feet above

the runway surface.

landing roll or has been brought to a complete stop when clear

of the landing area. Many accidents have occurred as a result
of pilots abandoning their vigilance and positive control after
getting the aircraft on the ground.

11-7

and the brakes can be applied. The nose should be lowered

for any aerodynamic braking at the higher speeds.

WSC back wheels are inches above the runway.

Lowering the nose also provides greater force on the front

wheel for superior braking effectiveness. Any skidding of the
front wheel with braking causes the loss of directional control
of the WSC aircraft and the skidding must be stopped by
letting up on the brake. Skidding can be the greatest problem
operating on slick surfaces such as wet grass. Rear wheel
braking systems are heavier and more complex, but provide
better braking force because there are two wheels instead of
one and there is more weight on the rear wheels. Braking
effectiveness should be evaluated by the pilot for each type
of runway being used. If the available runway permits, the
speed of the aircraft should be allowed to dissipate in a normal
manner with minimum use of brakes. [Figure 11-15]

Figure 11-14. Completing the roundout with the control bar full

Figure 11-15. WSC aircraft follows the taxi line to exit the runway

forward and the back wheels settling to the runway.

while slowing the aircraft and maintaining control of the wing.

Figure 11-13. Continuing the roundout as speed bleeds off and the

The pilot must make only slight turns to maintain direction

until the WSC has slowed to taxiing speed. An abrupt turn
at high speed could possibly lift a rear wheel, roll the WSC
over, or force the wingtip to the ground. The WSC must slow
to taxing speed before before any sharp turn can be made to
exit the runway.
The brakes of an aircraft serve the same primary purpose as
the brakes of an automobileto reduce speed on the ground.
Maximum brake effectiveness is just short of the skid point.
If the brakes are applied so hard that skidding takes place,
braking becomes ineffective. Skidding can be stopped by
releasing the brake pressure. Also, braking effectiveness is
not enhanced by alternately applying and reapplying brake
pressure. The brakes should be applied rmly and smoothly
as necessary.
WSC aircraft have nosewheel or rear wheel braking systems.
For nosewheel systems, if braking is required right away, the
nose should be lowered so the nosewheel touches the ground

11-8

The control bar serves the same purpose on the ground as

in the airit changes the lift and drag components of the
wings. During the after-landing roll, the control bar should
be used to keep the wings level in much the same way it is
used in ight. If a wing starts to rise, roll control should be
applied to lower it. Procedures for crosswind conditions are
explained further in the Crosswind Approach and Landing
section of this chapter.

Effect of Headwinds During Final

Approach
A headwind plays a prominent role in the gliding distance
over the ground. Strong headwinds decrease the glide as
shown in the comparison in Figure 11-16A with no wind
normal glide versus Figure 11-16B in headwind with steeper
glide. To account for a steeper glide in a headwind, the base
leg must be positioned closer to the approach end of the
runway than would be required with a light wind. Therefore,

Norm
al Gli
depa
Idle
th No
Pow
Head
er
w

ind

34

Intended Landing

Glidepath in Calm Winds

High Wind

Gl

Id

le

ide

pa

th

Po

we

wi

th

ind

34

Intended Landing

Effect of Wind on Glidepath

Proper base Leg setup in high winds

Gli

de
pa
th
eP
wit
ow
hw
er
ind

High Wind

Idl
Set up a base closer to runway
In high winds because glidepath is steeper

34

High Wind Base Leg Setup

Intended Landing

Too far away base leg setup in high winds

High Wind

Pow
er Ap
plica
in cre
tion
H
a
Main
Id ig se
tains
le h
d
Glide
Po W G
path
we ind lide
to Ru
pa
r
nway
th
in Hig
De

h Win

ds

34

Effect on Glidepath with Power Application in High Winds

Intended Landing

Figure 11-16. Headwinds for final approach.

the base leg must be made closer to the runway to land in

the intended area in a headwind. [Figure 11-16 C] However,
if more headwind is experienced during nal approach,
increased power is required to make the intended landing
area. [Figure 11-16 D]

Naturally, the pilot does not have control over the wind but
may correct for its effect on the aircrafts descent by adjusting
the base leg of the pattern. The wind can vary signicantly
at different attitudes and locations in the pattern. If the pilot
does not notice the headwind until the base leg, the base

11-9

leg should be cut short and the pilot should head towards
the runway sooner. This would provide the best possibility
of making the runway if there is an engine failure in this
situation. [Figure 11-17]
Additionally, during strong headwinds, more energy (power
and airspeed) should be used since the wind gradient (slowing
of the wind near the ground because of the friction of the
ground) could reduce the airspeed and cause a stall on
approach near the ground in higher winds.

Stabilized Approach Concept

A stabilized approach is one in which the pilot establishes and
maintains a constant angle glidepath toward a predetermined
point on the landing runway. It is based on the pilots judgment
of certain visual clues and depends on the maintenance of a
constant nal descent airspeed.

D
IN

The point toward which the aircraft is progressing is termed

the aiming point. [Figure 11-18] It is the point on the
ground at which, if the aircraft maintains a constant glidepath
and was not rounded out for landing, it would strike the
ground. To a pilot moving straight ahead toward an object,
it appears to be stationary. This is how the aiming point can
be distinguishedit does not move. However, objects in
front of and beyond the aiming point do appear to move as
the distance is closed, and they appear to move in opposite
directions. During instruction in landings, one of the most
important skills a student pilot must acquire is the use of
visual cues to accurately determine the true aiming point
from any distance out on nal approach. From this, the pilot
is able not only to determine if the glidepath results in an
undershoot or overshoot, but also to predict the touchdown
point to within a few feet taking into account oat during
roundout.

APPROACH

NORMAL CAL

An aircraft descending on nal approach at a constant rate

and airspeed is traveling in a straight line toward a point on

the ground ahead. This point is not the point on which the
aircraft touches down because some oat inevitably occurs
during the roundout.

If crosswind encountered
on base leg
modify base leg

If tailwind encountered
on downwind leg
modify base leg

34
Intended Touchdown Point

Figure 11-17. Modified base leg if winds higher than intended are encountered during the base leg of the pattern.

11-10

Fin

al A

pp

roa

ch

Roundout starts

34
Aiming point is
where descent angle
intersects ground

Distance Traveled Past Aiming

Point to Touchdown

Touchdown

Figure 11-18. Stabilized approach.

For a constant angle glidepath, the distance between the

horizon and the aiming point remain constant. If a nal
approach descent has been established but the distance
between the perceived aiming point and the horizon
appears to increase (aiming point moving down, away from
the horizon), then the true aiming point and subsequent
touchdown point is farther down the runway. If the distance
between the perceived aiming point and the horizon decreases
(aiming point moving up toward the horizon), the true aiming
point is closer than perceived.
When the aircraft is established on nal approach, the shape
of the runway image also presents clues regarding what
must be done to maintain a stabilized approach to a safe
landing. A runway is normally shaped in the form of an
elongated rectangle. When viewed from the air during the
approach, perspective causes the runway to assume the shape
of a trapezoid with the far end appearing narrower than the
approach end, and the edge lines converging in the distance.
If the aircraft continues down the glidepath at a constant angle
(stabilized), the image the pilot sees is still trapezoidal but
of proportionately larger dimensions.
During a stabilized approach, the runway shape does not
change. [Figure 11-19] If the approach becomes shallower,
the runway appears to shorten and become wider. Conversely,
if the approach is steepened, the runway appears to become
longer and narrower. [Figure 11-20]
The objective of a stabilized approach is to select an
appropriate touchdown point on the runway and adjust
the glidepath so that the true aiming point and the desired
touchdown point coincide. Immediately after rolling out of
base leg and onto nal approach, the pilot should adjust the
speed so that the aircraft descends directly toward the aiming
point. With the approach set up in this manner, the pilot is

free to devote full attention to outside references. The pilot

should not stare at any one place, but rather scan from one
area to another, such as from the aiming point to the horizon,
to the trees and bushes along the runway, to an area well
short of the runway, and back to the aiming point. In this
way, the pilot is more apt to perceive a deviation from the
desired glidepath and whether or not the aircraft is proceeding
directly toward the aiming point.
If the pilot perceives any indication that the aiming point
on the runway is not where desired, an adjustment must be
made to the glidepath. This in turn moves the aiming point.
For instance, if the pilot perceives that the aiming point
is signicantly short of the desired touchdown point and
results in an undershoot, an increase in power is warranted.
The minimum airspeed recommended by the manufacturer
must be maintained. This results in a shallowing of the
glidepath with the resultant aiming point moving toward the
desired touchdown point. Conversely, if the pilot perceives
that the aiming point is farther down the runway than the
desired touchdown point and results in an overshoot, the
glidepath should be steepened by an increase in speed with
the throttle at idle. It is essential that deviations from the
desired glidepath be detected early, so that only slight and
infrequent adjustments to glidepath are required.
If a situation arises in which the required corrections become
larger (and possibly more frequent) as the aircraft draws closer
to the runway, an unstabilized approach results.
Common errors in the performance of normal approaches and
landings include the following:

Not realizing there is a tailwind during downwind to

complete an early base

Inadequate wind drift correction on the base leg

11-11

Too High

4,000' x 100' Runway

1,600' From Threshold
100' Altitude

Desired Descent Angle

Same Runway, Same Approach Angle

800' From Threshold
50' Altitude

Too Low

Same Runway, Same Approach Angle

400' From Threshold
25' Altitude

Figure 11-19. Runway shape during stabilized approach.

Figure 11-20. Change in runway shape if approach becomes

narrow or steep.

11-12

Overshooting or undershooting the turn onto nal

approach

Unstabilized approach

Attempting to maintain altitude or reach the runway

by slowing WSC aircraft below the minimum
manufacturers recommended approach airspeed

Gaining any altitude during the roundout

Rounding out too fast during landing

Focusing too close to the aircraft, resulting in an overly

high roundout

Focusing too far from the aircraft, resulting in an overly

low roundout

Touching down prior to attaining proper landing

attitude

Failure to lower the nose after the rear wheels touch

down

Failure to lower the nose after the front wheel touches

down

Excessive braking after touchdown

Go-Around (Rejected Landings)

Whenever landing conditions are not satisfactory, a go-around
is warranted. There are many factors that can contribute
to unsatisfactory landing conditions. Situations such as
ATC requirements, unexpected appearance of hazards on
the runway, overtaking another aircraft, wind shear, wake
turbulence, mechanical failure and/or an unstabilized approach
are all examples of reasons to discontinue a landing approach
and make another approach under more favorable conditions.
The assumption that an aborted landing is invariably the
consequence of a poor approach, which in turn is due to
insufcient experience or skill, is a fallacy. The go-around is
not strictly an emergency procedure. It is a normal maneuver
that may at times be used in an emergency situation. Like
any other normal maneuver, the go-around must be practiced
and perfected. The ight instructor should emphasize early
in the student pilots training that the go-around maneuver is
an alternative to any approach and/or landing.
Although the need to discontinue a landing may arise at any
point in the landing process, the most critical go-around is
one started when very close to the ground. Therefore, the
earlier a condition that warrants a go-around is recognized,
the safer the go-around/rejected landing is. The go-around
maneuver is not inherently dangerous in itself. It becomes
dangerous only when delayed unduly or executed improperly.
Delay in initiating the go-around normally stems from one
or both of two sources:

1.

Landing expectancy or setthe anticipatory belief

that conditions are not as threatening as they are and
that the approach will surely be terminated with a safe
landing, and

2.

Pridethe mistaken belief that the act of going around

is an admission of failure to execute the approach
properly. The improper execution of the go-around
maneuver stems from a lack of familiarity with the
two cardinal principles of the procedure: power and
speed.

Power
Power is the pilots rst concern. The instant the pilot decides
to go around, full or maximum allowable takeoff power must
be applied smoothly and without hesitation and held until
ying speed and controllability are restored. Applying only
partial power in a go-around is never appropriate unless the
WSC aircraft is at an unusually high pitch angle. The pilot
must be aware of the degree of inertia that must be overcome
before an aircraft that is settling toward the ground can regain
sufcient airspeed to become fully controllable and capable
of turning safely or climbing. The application of power
should be smooth as well as positive. Abrupt movements of
the throttle in some aircrafts causes the engine to falter.
Speed
Speed is always critical when close to the ground. When
power is added, a deliberate effort on the part of the pilot
is required to keep the nose from pitching up prematurely.
The aircraft executing a go-around must be maintained well
beyond the stall point before any effort is made to gain
altitude or to execute a turn. Raising the nose too early may
produce a stall from which the aircraft could not recover if the
go-around is performed at a low altitude. The manufacturers
recommended climb speed should be established and
maintained during the initial phase of the go around.
A concern for quickly regaining altitude during a go-around
produces a natural tendency to push the nose up. The pilot
executing a go-around must accept the fact that an aircraft
will not climb until it can y, and it will not y below stall
speed. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to lower
the nose briey to gain airspeed. [Figure 11-21]
During the initial part of an extremely low go-around, the
aircraft may settle onto the runway and bounce. This situation
is not particularly dangerous if the aircraft is kept straight and
a constant, safe speed is maintained. The aircraft is rapidly
approaching safe ying speed and the advanced power will
cushion any secondary touchdown.

11-13

Final Approach

Obstruction seen on runway and

go-around initiated during final
approach or round out
Full power applied

Normal Climbout
(at Vy after climb speed is reached)

34

Figure 11-21. Go-around procedure.

Common errors in the performance of go-around (rejected

landings) are:

Failure to recognize a condition that warrants a

rejected landing,

Indecision,

Delay in initiating a go-round,

Failure to apply maximum allowable power in a timely

manner,

Improper speed,

Attempting to climb out of ground effect prematurely,

and

Failure to adequately compensate for torque/Pfactor.

Short and Soft Field Landing Techniques

Many WSC aircraft land routinely on short and soft elds.
The type of WSC and appropriate systems for short and

Stabilized Approach at 1.3 V s Over Obstacle or

to Start of Short Landing Area

Figure 11-22. Short field landing.

11-14

Roundout and
Touchdown

soft eld was discussed in the Components and Systems

chapter. Here, some techniques for these landing areas are
discussed.
Short-Field Approaches and Landings
Short-field approaches and landings require the use of
procedures for approaches and landings at fields with
a relatively short landing area or where an approach is
made over obstacles that limit the available landing area.
[Figure 11-22] As in short-eld takeoffs, it is one of the most
critical of the maximum performance operations. It requires
that the pilot y the aircraft at one of its crucial performance
capabilities while close to the ground in order to land safely
within conned areas.
To land within a short eld or conned area, the pilot must
have precise, positive control of the rate of descent and
airspeed to produce an approach that clears any obstacles,
results in little or no oating during the roundout, and permits
the aircraft to be stopped in the shortest possible distance. As
with the short takeoff maneuver, this should only be done

Nose Down for Aerodynamic braking and

To Provide Maximum Brake System Effectiveness

for unusual situations or emergency operations and is not

recommended. There are numerous airports, elds, and other
areas to land, so preight planning should avoid short-eld
landings. However, short-eld procedures are provided for
information.
A stabilized approach is essential. These procedures generally
involve the starting to nal approach from an altitude of at
least 500 feet higher than the touchdown area. In the absence
of a manufacturers recommended approach speed and in
calm winds, example approach speeds are 1.3 times the stall
speed or 8 knots above the stall speed. For example, in an
aircraft that stalls at 30 knots with power off, the approach
speed should be 38 to 40 knots. This maneuver should not
be performed in gusty air because of the slow speeds and
close proximity to the ground. If it is necessary to accomplish
in gusty air, no more than one-half the gust factor should
be added. An excessive amount of airspeed could result
in a touchdown with an after-landing roll that exceeds the
available landing area.
For the steepest glide angle to clear obstacles such as trees or
buildings, the maneuver should be performed at idle power; if
the landing surface does not have obstacles that must be own
over, power on approach may be used to reach the landing
surface. The pilot should simultaneously adjust the power and
the speed to establish and maintain the proper descent angle.
A coordinated combination of both speed and power (if used)
adjustments is required to set up a stabilized approach.
The short-eld approach and landing is in reality an accuracy
approach to a spot landing. The procedures previously
outlined in the section on the stabilized approach concept
should be used. If it appears that the obstacle clearance is
excessive and touchdown will occur well beyond the desired
spot leaving insufcient room to stop, lowering the pitch
attitude and reducing power (if used) steepen the descent path
and increase the rate of descent. If it appears that the descent
angle will not ensure safe clearance of obstacles, power
should be increased to shallow the descent path and decrease
the rate of descent. Care must be taken to avoid an excessively
low airspeed. If the speed is allowed to become too low, an
increase in pitch and application of full power may result in a
further rate of descent. This occurs when the AOA is too great
and creating so much drag that the maximum available power
is insufcient to overcome it. This is generally referred to as
operating in the region of reversed command or operating on
the back side of the power curve.

manufacturers recommended approach speed, the initiation

of the roundout must be judged accurately to avoid ying
into the ground or stalling prematurely and sinking rapidly.
A lack of oating during the roundout with sufcient control
to touch down properly is one verication that the approach
speed was correct.
Upon touchdown, the nose should be brought down
completely for aerodynamic braking and providing maximum
pressure on the wheels for using the braking system.
Immediately upon touchdown, appropriate braking should be
applied to minimize the after-landing roll. The aircraft should
be stopped within the shortest possible distance consistent
with safety and controllability. If the situation arises and
the minimum landing distance is required, the WSC can be
landed above the normal speed, the nose brought down for
aerodynamic braking while the brakes are applied for the
shortest distance possible.
Soft and Rough Field Approaches and Landings
Landing on elds that are rough or have soft surfaces, such as
snow, sand, mud, tall grass, or a rocky/bumpy eld requires
unique procedures. When landing on such surfaces, the
objective is to touch down as smoothly as possible and at
the lowest possible landing speed. The pilot must control the
aircraft so that the wings support the weight of the aircraft as
long as is practical to minimize drag and stresses imposed on
the landing gear by the rough or soft surface.
Similar to the soft eld for takeoff, proper gearspecically
big tires with a large wing and overall low weightshould be
utilized for soft or rough eld operations. Refer to appropriate
gear and warnings in Chapter 7, Takeoff and Departure
Climbs, for soft or rough eld operation as a prerequisite
for this chapter.
The approach for the soft eld landing is similar to the normal
approach used for operating into long, rm landing areas.
The major difference between the two is that, during the soft
or rough eld landing, the distance on the soft/rough eld is
minimized and the weight is kept off the wheels by the lift
of the wing when on the soft/rough eld. Power can be used
throughout the level-off and touchdown to ensure touchdown
at the lowest possible airspeed, with the WSC aircraft own
onto the ground with the weight fully supported by the wings.
The touchdown should be planned for minimal taxi distance
to the stopping point so there is the shortest possible distance
with weight on the landing gear on the rough/soft surface.
[Figure 11-23]

Because the final approach over obstacles is made at

a relatively steep approach angle and at the minimum

11-15

Touch down
as late as possible

NORMAL APPROACH

DECELERATE IN GROUND EFFECT

MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN

TOUCHDOWN AND PARKING AREA
WITH NOSE HIGH TO MINIMIZE
WEIGHT ON FRONT WHEEL

PARKING
AREA

Figure 11-23. Soft/rough field approach and landing.

Touchdown on a soft or rough eld should be made at the

lowest possible airspeed with the aircraft in a nose-high pitch
attitude. After the main wheels touch the surface, the pilot
should hold bar-forward pressure to keep the nosewheel off
the surface. Using forward control bar pressure and engine
power, the pilot can control the rate at which the weight of
the aircraft is transferred from the wings to the wheels.
Field conditions may warrant that the pilot maintain a ight
condition where the main wheels are just touching the surface,
but the weight of the aircraft is still being supported by the
wings until a suitable taxi surface is reached. At any time
during this transition phase, before the weight of the aircraft
is being supported by the wheels and before the nosewheel
is on the surface, the pilot should be able to apply full power
and perform a safe takeoff (obstacle clearance and eld length
permitting) should the pilot elect to abandon the landing.
Once committed to a landing, the pilot should gently lower
the nosewheel to the surface. A slight reduction of power
usually helps ease the nosewheel down.
The use of brakes on a soft eld is not needed and should
be avoided as this tends to impose a heavy load on the nose
gear due to premature or hard contact with the landing
surface causing the nosewheel to dig in. The soft or rough
surface itself provides sufcient reduction in the aircrafts
forward speed. Often upon landing on a very soft eld, the
pilot needs to increase power to keep the aircraft moving and
from becoming stuck on the soft surface.

sheer, or up and down drafts, are experienced. Like other

power-on approaches (when the pilot can vary the amount
of power), a coordinated combination of both speed and
power adjustments is usually required. It is easiest to think
of ying the aircraft onto the ground at an airspeed above
the stall speed. The additional power provides the pilot the
ability to reduce the descent rate to touch the wheels gently
to the surface at a higher speed. Landing in turbulent air is
where practice and experience in energy management are
utilized. This precise coordination of power and speed for
higher energy landings should rst be practiced in calm air
and can be used as the next step in learning landings after the
student becomes procient at low approaches.
To determine the additional approach speed to ying in
turbulence, one procedure is to use the normal approach
speed plus one-half of the wind gust factors. The wind gust
factor is determined by how much the airspeed varies while
ying. If the normal approach speed is 50 knots and the wind
gusts are at 15 knots, an airspeed of 57 knots is appropriate.
Another method is to ensure the aircraft is at least at VY speed
plus the wind gust factor. In any case, the airspeed that the
aircraft manufacturer recommends.

Power-on Approach and Landing for

Turbulant Air

An adequate amount of power should be used to maintain the

proper airspeed and descent path throughout the approach
and the throttle retarded to idling position only after the
main wheels contact the landing surface. Care must be
exercised in not closing the throttle before the pilot is ready
for touchdown. In this situation, the sudden or premature
closing of the throttle may cause a sudden increase in the
descent rate that could result in a hard landing.

Power-on approaches at an airspeed above the normal

approach speed should be used for landing in turbulent
air. This provides for more energy and positive control
of the aircraft when strong horizontal wind gusts, wind

Landings from power-on approaches in turbulence should

be such that the touchdown is made with the aircraft in
approximately level ight attitude. The pitch attitude at

11-16

touchdown should be only enough to prevent the nosewheel

from contacting the surface before the main wheels have
touched the surface. Most WSC are designed so the front
wheel is higher than the back wheels in this situation, but each
WSC is different. This must be evaluated for each model.
After touchdown, the pilot should reduce the throttle to idle
and pull the control bar all the way to the chest to lower the
nose and prevent the WSC aircraft from lifting off until it
slows below the stall speed. The aircraft should be allowed
to decelerate normally with the aerodynamic braking of the
wing with the nose lowered, and assisted by the wheel brakes
as required.

Crosswind Approaches and Landings

Many runways or landing areas are made such that landings
must be made while the wind is blowing across rather than
parallel to the landing direction. All pilots should be prepared
to cope with these situations when they arise. The same basic
principles and factors involved in a normal and power-on
approach and landing apply to a crosswind approach and
landing; therefore, only the additional procedures required
for correcting for wind drift are discussed here.
Crosswind approaches and landings are more challenging
than normal landings because of the wind drift in the pattern,
crab angles on approach, and generally more mechanical
turbulence for the nal approach and roundout because of
buildings and/or trees along the sides of the runway. Since
mechanical turbulence would typically increase as the aircraft
descends closer to the ground, power-on approaches and
techniques for ying in turbulence should be utilized.
Crosswind Pattern Procedures
Since WSC aircraft typically y tighter patterns, the pattern
should be modied if the crosswind is in a direction pushing
the WSC aircraft toward the runway. Refer to Figure 11-24
for the following discussion. The normal or typical pattern
downwind and base for calm winds is shown in blue.
This pattern would also be used if there were an opposite
crosswind from that shown blowing from the runway toward
the base leg. If a strong crosswind (15 knots as an example,
which is a limitation for many WSC) is noticed while ying
the down wind or the runway wind indicators show this
crosswind, at A the decision should be made to modify
the pattern, making it wider by ying out to location B.
An extended downwind should then be made farther than
the typical normal pattern to C. This provides additional
distance from the runway for the base leg, which will be at a
much higher groundspeed than normal because the WSC is
ying in a strong tailwind from point C to D. The turn
must be made at D to set up for nal approach at E where
there is a signicant crab angle. From the nal approach at
E to touchdown, the pilot has sufcient time to establish

the ground track in the center of the runway and evaluate if

the landing should be completed, a go-around performed,
or a different landing location selected with more favorable
wind conditions.
Effects and Hazards of High Crosswinds for
Approaches and Landings
Figure 11-24 illustrates a scenario that includes the effects
and hazards of high wind, referencing groundspeed, high
rates of turn, and power requirements for making downwind
turns in close proximity to the ground.
During the downwind leg of the pattern, the pilot does not
notice the strong wind blowing the WSC aircraft into the
runway. From points A to W, the pilot reduces power as
normal but does not crab into the wind and drifts with the
wind toward the runway between points A and W. This leads
the pilot to be closer to the runway when he or she turns
onto base. The pilot turns onto base and is traveling at high
groundspeed and the strong tailwind leads to the pilot passing
the runway centerline normal nal approach at point X. From
points X to Y, the pilot starts the turn for nal approach late
because of the high groundspeed. The WSC aircraft past the
runway centerline leads the pilot to increase the bank to make
it back to the centerline. The previous errors lead the pilot
into a high bank angle at low altitude pointed down in a rapid
descent. This leads the pilot to apply full power at Y, which
drives the WSC aircraft into ground at point Z.
The error chain that led to this accident could have been
avoided at two primary points. First, the pilot should have
noticed ying in a crosswind or indications of a strong
crosswind on the runway from airport wind indicators at
A. He or she should have then widened the pattern into the
crosswind from A to B and performed the recommended
crosswind procedure described earlier.
Second, if the pilot did not realize the high wind blowing to
the runway until point X was reached, the wings should have
been leveled and a go-around performed without trying to
make it back to the runway as shown in the yellow goaround path shown on Figure 11-24.
For strong crosswinds beyond the capabilities of the pilot
or limitations of the WSC aircraft, an alternate landing strip
should be found. This could be another airport or landing strip
that faces into the wind. An option at uncontrolled airports
is to choose an alternate runway or even a taxiway that faces
into the wind. Some of the larger airports with wide runways
make it possible to land at an angle if needed; some are wide
enough to land across the main runway. At towered airports,
the air trafc controller can assist the pilot and provide an
alternate landing area if requested.

11-17

PROPER ALTERNATE PATTERN

WIT
H

ST

RO
NG
Wind

HA

DO
ZAR

US DESCENT
TYPICAL PATTERN FOR CALM WIND

SSWINDS HEADED TOWARD

CR O

High Groundspeed

RUNWAY

Y
Wind

Strong Wind

GO-AROUND

34
Figure 11-24. Crosswind procedures and effects/hazards of high crosswinds.

11-18

TYPICAL DOWN WIND PATTERN FOR WSC

Maximum Crosswind Velocities

Takeoffs and landings in certain crosswind conditions are
inadvisable and even dangerous. [Figure 11-26] If the
crosswind is great enough, a hazardous landing condition
may result. Therefore, takeoff and landing capabilities with
respect to the reported surface wind conditions and available
landing directions must be considered.

TAXI
TOUCH
DOWN
ROUND OUT

The procedure for the wing during the roundout is the same
as that for normal and turbulent roundout and touchdowns.
The exception is that after touchdown the windward wing
should be lowered slightly so the wind cannot get under it to
ip the WSC aircraft during later landing roll and taxi.

Wind

25
FINAL APPROACH

Crosswind Landings
When in nal approach, the wind correction angle (crab
angle) is established by heading toward the wind with the
wings level so that the aircrafts ground track remains aligned
with the centerline of the runway. [Figure 11-25] This crab
angle is maintained all the way to touchdown, when the rear
wheels hit rst and rotate the carriage and wing around so
the front wheel touches the ground with the carriage going
straight. However, if in turbulent air or pitched forward
during the touchdown, with the front wheel touching the
ground rst, the pilot should lightly control the steering of
the front wheel to be headed in the direction the carriage is
going. WSC carriage front landing gear typically has camber
that tends to steer the front wheel naturally in the direction
of travel, so a light touch on the front wheel as it touches
the ground allows it to nd its own direction of travel. Once
the front wheel is on the ground, lower the nose to keep the
WSC on the ground and steer as required down the center
of the runway.

WSC crosswind limitations have been tested and are included

in the POH. The headwind and crosswind components for a
given situation can be determined by reference to a crosswind
component chart. [Figure 11-27] It is imperative that pilots
determine the maximum crosswind component of each aircraft
own and avoid operations in wind conditions that exceed the
capability of the aircraft. The automatic weather observation
system (AWOS) or automatic surface observation system
(ASOS) at airports is useful in determining the measured
velocity for this evaluation.
Common errors in the performance of crosswind approaches
and landings include:

Figure 11-25. Crosswind approach and landing.

Failure to recognize a strong crosswind blowing at the

runway during the downwind leg;

11-19

Inadequate compensation for wind drift on the

turn from base leg to nal approach, resulting in
undershooting or overshooting;

Inadequate compensation for wind drift on final

approach;

Unstabilized approach;

Touchdown while drifting;

Excessive pressure on the nosewheel steering during

touchdown;

Excessive airspeed on touchdown;

Failure to apply appropriate ight control inputs during

rollout;

Failure to maintain direction control on rollout; and

Excessive braking.

30

Wind VelocityMPH

DANGER ZONE
20

Direct Headwind
10

Direct Crosswind

0
20

40

60

80

100

110

Wind AngleDegrees

10

20

40

ITY
OC

50

15

W
IN

60

10

5
D1

70

80

A steep approach is a valuable maneuver for WSC aircraft.

[Figure 11-28] It is better to be too high for an approach
rather than too low for an approach in case the engine fails. A
steep approach can be used to reach the landing point easily;
if too low, the aircraft lands short. Steep approaches are used
routinely by many pilots to help ensure making the landing
point if the engine fails.

30

Steep Approaches

W
IN
D
L
VE

20

Direct Headwind

25

EE
SP

Headwind Component in Knots or MPH

30

Figure 11-26. Example of a crosswind limitations chart.

10 12

15

Direct Crosswind
20
25

90
30

Crosswind Component in Knots or MPH

EXAMPLE

15

ot

ot

kn

kn

50

nd

wi

nd

wi

10 knots

12 knots

15

15-knot wind at
50 to runway is
12-knot crosswind
component and
10-knot headwind
component

Figure 11-27. Example of a crosswind component chart.

Failure to modify the pattern for strong crosswind

conditions;

Failure to do a go-around when the nal approach to

the runway is downwind of the runway centerline;

Attempting to land in crosswinds that exceed the pilots

capabilities;

Attempting to land in crosswinds that exceed

the aircrafts maximum demonstrated crosswind
component;

11-20

Figure 11-28. Pilot view of runway where a steep approach would

be required.

The two types of procedures (or a combination thereof) used

are based on the angle of descent required. To perform a steep
approach, evaluation of the situation considers the angle of
descent required to land at or within 400 feet of a specied
point in which the steep angle or alternating turns are utilized.
For all steep approaches, the throttle is brought to idle.

Steep Angle
For situations in which an increase in the descent angle is
needed for the intended landing spot, the normal procedure
is to increase speed above the best LD speed in order to
descend. The greater the speed is, the greater the parasitic
drag and descent angle.
Each design has different descent rates based on the parasitic
drag of the wing and carriage. For example, a single surface
with an exposed crossbar wing and a stick carriage (no
streamlined cowling) increases the descent angle quickly
because of the dramatic increases in drag with increased
speed. A double surface wing with a streamlined carriage
does not develop parasitic drag as fast with increased speed
and is less able to achieve a steep angle with increased speed.
The pilot should understand that this characteristic is unique
to the make/model being own. This steep angle technique is
the optimum steep approach procedure because the aircraft
is lined up on the runway and the pilot can easily judge the
glideslope using the stabilized approach method covered
earlier. [Figure 11-29]
Increase speed as required to obtain the descent angle for
the intended touchdown point. Use the stabilized approach
technique to obtain the increased angle for the aiming
point. At the higher speeds and greater descent, slow to the
normal approach speed, intersect the normal nal approach
path, and perform the landing required for that particular
situation (calm air/crosswinds/turbulent air). As the student
gains prociency at steep approach techniques, the altitude
to transition from the high speed steep angle to the normal
approach speed can be lowered and eventually combined
into one continuous roundout for landing started at a higher
altitude than the normal approach and roundout. For this
situation, note that with the increased speed the roundout

covers additional distance that should be accounted for as

the speed is decreased.
Alternating Turns
If at a height at which a steep approach is necessary, but
the aircraft is too high to obtain an angle steep enough to
make the intended landing area, alternating turns can be
made to decrease altitude to a point at which the steep angle
technique could be applied for the remainder of the descent.
These alternating turns should be performed no lower than
400 feet above ground level (AGL). The turns should be
an equal distance from the runway centerline extension to
keep track and maintain the relative position on the runway
centerline. The bank and direction of turns across the runway
centerline should be determined by how much altitude must
be lost to position the WSC aircraft for utilization of the steep
angle technique for the remainder of the steep approach, if
required. [Figure 11-30]

Power-Off Accuracy Approaches

Power-off accuracy approaches are made by gliding with
the engine idling through a specic pattern to a touchdown
beyond and within 200 feet of a designated line or mark on
the runway. The objective is to instill in the pilot the judgment
and knowledge of procedures necessary for accurate ight,
without power, to a safe landing. This simulates procedures
for an emergency engine-out situation. The ability to estimate
the distance an aircraft glides to a landing is the real basis of
all power-off accuracy approaches and landings. This largely
determines the amount of maneuvering that may be done from
a given altitude. In addition to the ability to estimate distance,
the ability to maintain the proper glide while maneuvering
the aircraft is required.

Norma

l Appro

Norma

l Final

Appro

ach

ach Sp

eed

Ste

ep

Appro

ach

34

Decrease speed and intersect normal

Touchdown

Figure 11-29. Steep approachsteep angle technique.

11-21

Alternating Turns
to Lose Altitude

Alternating Turns
on Runway Centerline

Minimum
400 feet AGL

34

Runway
Centerline

17

Top View

Norm
Angle al or S
Appr teepoach

Figure 11-30. Alternating turns used if too high to lose enough altitude to position for a normal or steep-angle approach.

With experience and practice, altitudes up to approximately

1,000 feet can be estimated with fair accuracy, while above
this level the accuracy in judgment of height above the
ground decreases since features tend to merge. The best aid
in perfecting the ability to judge height above this altitude is
altimeter indications and associating them with the general
appearance of the Earth.

planning an approach. The 180 power-off approach from

pattern altitude should be the normal landing procedure in
calm winds. This should become routine and develop the
ability to accurately judge the landing for an engine-out
situation. Remember, the steep approach technique can
always be used if the aircraft is a little high, but do not stretch
a glide by lowering the speed if too low.

The judgment of altitude in feet, hundreds of feet, or thousands

of feet is not as important as the ability to estimate gliding
angle and its resultant distance. The pilot who knows the
normal glide angle of the aircraft can estimate with reasonable
accuracy the approximate spot along a given ground path
at which the aircraft lands, regardless of altitude. The pilot
who also has the ability to estimate altitude accurately can
judge how much maneuvering is possible during the glide,
which is important to the choice of landing areas in an actual
emergency.

The basic procedure in these approaches involves closing

the throttle at a given altitude and gliding to a key position.
This position, like the pattern itself, must not be allowed to
become the primary objective; it is merely a convenient point
in the air from which the pilot can judge whether the glide
safely terminates at the desired spot. The selected key position
should be one that is appropriate for the available altitude
and the wind condition. From the key position, the pilot must
constantly evaluate the situation. It must be emphasized that,
although accurate spot touchdowns are important, safe and
properly executed approaches and landings are vital. The
pilot must never sacrice a good approach or landing just to
land on the desired spot.

Unlike a normal approach in which power is available when

needed, for a power-off approach the power is xed at the
idle setting. Pitch attitude is adjusted to control the airspeed,
which also changes the glide or descent angle. As discussed
in the basic ight maneuvers descents and the steep approach
maneuver, lowering the nose to a speed above the best glide
angle causes the descent angle to steepen. If the airspeed is
too high, raise the nose, and when the airspeed is too low,
lower the nose. If the pitch attitude is raised too high, the
aircraft settles rapidly due to low airspeed and insufcient
lift. For this reason, never try to stretch a glide to reach the
desired landing spot.
Uniform approach patterns such as the 90, 180, or 360
power-off approaches are described further in this chapter.
Practice in these approaches provides the pilot with a basis
on which to develop judgment in gliding distance and in
11-22

All power-off approaches must be practiced to avoid

interfering with normal trafc ow at busy airports, so the
place and timing must be evaluated by the instructor to
prevent airport trafc conicts. This is especially important
for the 360 power-off approach.

90 Power-Off Approach
The 90 power-off approach is made from a base leg and
requires only a 90 turn onto the nal approach. The approach
path may be varied by positioning the base leg closer to or
farther away from the approach end of the runway according
to wind conditions. [Figure 11-31] The glide from the key

1
2
3

36
1. Strong Wind
Set up closest base for
steeper glideslope on final
2. Medium Wind
Set up closer base for
steeper glideslope on final
3. Light Wind
Set up normal base for
normal final

Figure 11-31. Plan the base leg according to wind conditions.

position on the base leg through the 90 turn to the nal

approach is the nal part of all accuracy landing maneuvers.
Steep approach procedures may be used during the nal
approach if needed.
The 90 power-off approach usually begins from a rectangular
pattern below normal pattern altitude as long as this point is
above 500 feet AGL. The before-landing checklist should
be completed on the downwind leg.
After a medium-banked turn onto the base leg is completed
and key position obtained, the throttle should be completely
reduced to idle and the airspeed set to approach speed.
[Figure 11-32] At this position, the intended landing spot
appears to be on a 45 angle from the aircrafts nose.
The pilot can determine the strength and direction of the
wind from the amount of crab necessary to hold the desired
ground track on the base leg. This helps in planning the turn
onto the nal approach. The base-to-nal turn should be
planned and accomplished so that upon rolling out of the
turn the aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline. Slight
adjustments in pitch attitude may be necessary to control
the glide angle and airspeed. However, never try to stretch
the glide to reach the desired landing spot. After the nal
approach glide has been established, full attention is given
to making a good, safe landing rather than concentrating on
the selected landing spot. In any event, it is better to execute
a good landing 200 feet from the spot than to make a poor
landing precisely on the spot.

180 Power-Off Approach

The 180 power-off approach is executed by gliding with
the power off from a given point on a downwind leg to a
preselected landing spot. [Figure 11-33] It is an extension
of the principles involved in the 90 power-off approach
just described. Its objective is to further develop judgment
in estimating distances and glide ratios, in that the aircraft
is own without power from a higher altitude and through
a 90 turn to reach the base-leg position at a proper altitude
for executing the 90 approach.
The 180 power-off approach requires more planning and
judgment than the 90 power-off approach. In the execution
of 180 power-off approaches, the aircraft is own on a
downwind heading parallel to the landing runway. The
altitude from which this type of approach should be started
in the downwind leg is at a normal pattern altitude. This
power-off approach should be the normal procedure except
for normal light wind landings, the throttle can be brought
back to idle between the downwind leg key position and the
turn onto the base leg depending on the height and distance
from the runway. When abreast of or opposite the desired
landing spot or a location closer to the turn onto base if the
WSC is further from the runway, the throttle should be closed
and the WSC aircraft set to the best glide speed. The point at
which the throttle is closed is the downwind key position.

11-23

Power Reduced to Idle

After Turn to Base Leg
at Base Reference Position

45

6
3

Reference Position

Figure 11-32. 90 power-off approach showing 45 reference position.

Close Throttle Normal Glide Speed

18

90

Downwind Leg Key Position

36

Reference Position

Figure 11-33. 180 power-off approach example.

11-24

The turn from the downwind leg to the base leg should be
a uniform turn with a medium or slightly steeper bank. The
degree of bank and amount of this initial turn depends upon
the glide angle of the aircraft and the velocity of the wind.
Again, the base leg should be positioned as needed for the
altitude or wind condition. Position the base leg to conserve
or dissipate altitude to reach the desired landing spot. The
turn onto the base leg should be made at an altitude high
enough and close enough to permit the aircraft to glide
to what would normally be the base key position in a 90
power-off approach.
Although the key position is important, it must not be
overemphasized or considered as a xed point on the ground.
Many inexperienced pilots have the false understanding of it
as a particular landmark, such as a tree, crossroad, or other
visual reference to be reached at a certain altitude. This leaves
the pilot at a total loss any time such objects are not present.
Both altitude and geographical location should be varied as
much as practical to eliminate any such conception. After
reaching the base key position, the approach and landing are
the same as in the 90 power-off approach.
360 Power-Off Approach
The 360 power-off approach is one in which the aircraft
glides through a 360 change of direction to the preselected
landing spot. The entire pattern is designed to be circular
but the turn may be shallowed, steepened, or discontinued at

any point to adjust the accuracy of the ightpath. The 360

approach is started from a position over the approach end of
the landing runway or slightly to the side of it, with the aircraft
headed in the proposed landing direction. [Figure 11-34] It
is usually initiated from approximately 2,000 feet or more
above the groundwhere the wind may vary signicantly
from that at lower altitudes. This must be taken into account
when maneuvering the aircraft to a point from which a 90
or 180 power-off approach can be completed.
After the throttle is closed over the intended point of landing,
the proper glide speed should immediately be established and
a medium-banked turn made in the desired direction to arrive
at the downwind reference position opposite the intended
landing spot. The altitude at the downwind reference position
should be approximately 1,000 feet above the ground. After
reaching that point, the turn should be continued to arrive at
a base-leg key position.
The angle of bank can be varied as needed throughout the
pattern to correct for wind conditions and to align the aircraft
with the nal approach. The turn to nal should be completed
at a minimum altitude of 300 feet above the terrain.
Common errors in the performance of power-off accuracy
approaches include:

Downwind leg too far from the runway/landing

area;

Normal Glide Speed

Close Throttle

Normal Glide Speed

18

Reference Position

36
Reference Position

Figure 11-34. 360 power-off approach.

11-25

Overextension of downwind leg resulting from

tailwind;

Inadequate compensation for wind drift on base leg;

Attempting to stretch the glide during undershoot;

Forcing the aircraft onto the runway in order to avoid

overshooting the designated landing spot.

Emergency Approaches and Landings

(Simulated Engine Out)
From time to time on dual ights, the instructor should
give surprise simulated emergency landings by retarding
the throttle and calling simulated emergency landing.
The objective of these simulated emergency landings is to
develop pilot accuracy, judgment, planning, procedures, and
condence.

landing distance requirements of the aircraft determine the

pattern and approach procedures to use.
Utilizing any combination of normal gliding maneuvers,
from wings level to steep turns, the pilot should eventually
arrive at the normal reference position at a normal trafc
pattern altitude for the selected landing area. From this point
on, the approach is as nearly as possible a normal power-off
approach as described previously in the Power-off Accuracy
Approaches section. Steep approach techniques may be used
for nal approach if required.
If the student is high above the desired emergency landing
area, large low-banked circles above the area should be made
and widened or narrowed as required to provide downwind
and nal reference points for the landing. [Figure 11-35]

When the instructor calls simulated emergency landing,

the pilot should immediately establish the best glide speed
and the aircraft trimmed (if so equipped) to maintain that
speed.

Despite the greater choice of fields afforded by higher

altitudes, the inexperienced pilot may be inclined to delay
making a decision and, despite considerable altitude in which
to maneuver, errors in maneuvering and estimation of glide
distance may develop.

A constant gliding speed should initially be maintained

because variations of gliding speed nullify all attempts at
accuracy in judgment of gliding distance and the landing
spot. The many variables, such as altitude, obstruction, wind
direction, landing direction, landing surface and gradient, and

All pilots should learn to determine the wind direction and

estimate its speed from any means available. This could be a
feel of the wind drift on the WSC, GPS ground speed versus
true airspeed, and visual indicators such as the windsock at

Large circles at low bank angle over landing field

Downwind to Base Reference Point

ND

WI

Base to Final Reference Point

Intended Landing

Figure 11-35. If high enough over the intended landing area, remain over intended landing area with large low-banked circles to establish

reference points for landing.

11-26

the airport, smoke from factories or houses, dust, res, ags,

ripples on water surfaces, and windmills.
Once a eld has been selected, the student pilot should
always be required to indicate it to the instructor. Normally,
the student should be required to plan and y a pattern for
landing on the eld rst elected until the instructor terminates
the simulated emergency landing. This gives the instructor
an opportunity to explain and correct any errors; it also gives
the student an opportunity to see the results of the errors.
However, if the student realizes during the approach that
a poor eld has been selectedone that would obviously
result in disaster if a landing were to be madeand there is
a more advantageous eld within gliding distance, a change
to the better eld should be permitted. The hazards involved
in these last-minute decisions, such as excessive maneuvering
at very low altitudes, should be thoroughly explained by
the instructor. Steep approaches, varying the position of the
base leg, and varying the turn onto nal approach should be
stressed as ways of correcting for misjudgment of altitude
and glide angle.
Eagerness to get down is one of the most common faults of
inexperienced pilots during simulated emergency landings.
In giving way to this, they forget about speed and arrive at
the edge of the eld with too much speed to permit a safe
landing. Too much speed may be just as dangerous as too
little; it results in excessive oating and overshooting the
desired landing spot. It should be impressed on the students
that they cannot dive at a eld and expect to land on it if it
is short.
During all simulated emergency landings, the engine should
be kept warm and cleared. During a simulated emergency
landing, the student should have control of the foot throttle
and the instructor should have control of a second throttle.
The instructor should tell the student to increase the throttle
when needed, but the instructor should be ready with the
second throttle in case the student does not apply it as
required.
Every simulated emergency landing approach should be
terminated as soon as it can be determined whether a safe
landing could have been made. In no case should it be
continued to a point where it creates an undue hazard or an
annoyance to persons or property on the ground.
In addition to ying the aircraft from the point of simulated
engine failure to where a reasonable safe landing could be
made, the student should also be taught certain emergency
ight deck procedures. The habit of performing these ight
deck procedures should be developed to such an extent that,
when an engine failure actually occurs, the student checks

the critical items that would be necessary to get the engine

operating again while selecting a eld and planning an
approach. Combining the two operationsaccomplishing
emergency procedures and planning and flying the
approachis difcult for the student during early training
in emergency landings.
There are denite steps and procedures to be followed in
a simulated emergency landing. Although they may differ
somewhat from the procedures used in an actual emergency,
they should be learned thoroughly by the student and each
step called out to the instructor. The use of a checklist is
strongly recommended. Most aircraft manufacturers provide
a checklist of the appropriate items.
Critical items to be checked should include the quantity of
fuel and the position of the magneto switch. Many actual
emergency landings could have been prevented if the pilots
had developed the habit of checking these critical items
during ight training to the extent that it carried over into
later ying.

Faulty Approaches and Landings

Low Final Approach
When the base leg is too low, insufcient power is used, or
the velocity of the wind is misjudged, sufcient altitude may
be lost, which causes the aircraft to be well below the proper
nal approach path. In such a situation, the pilot would need
to apply considerable power to maintain or gain altitude as
required to y the aircraft (at an excessively low altitude)
up to the runway threshold. When the proper approach path
has been intercepted, the correct approach attitude should be
reestablished, the power reduced, and a stabilized approach
maintained. [Figure 11-36] Do not increase the pitch attitude
without increasing the power since the aircraft decelerates
rapidly and may approach the critical AOA and stall. If there
is any doubt about the approach being safely completed, it is
advisable to execute an immediate go-around.
High Final Approach
When the nal approach is too high, perform a steep approach
as required for the height above the landing spot. Refer to the
steep approach section earlier in this chapter.
Slow Final Approach
When the aircraft is own at slower-than-normal airspeed
on the nal approach, pilot determination of the rate of sink
(descent) and the height of roundout is difcult. During an
excessively slow approach, the wing is operating near the
critical AOA and, depending on the pitch attitude changes
and control usage, the aircraft may stall or sink rapidly and
contact the ground with a hard impact.

11-27

W
ro
n

1
g

Add power
Hold altitude

(A
pp
ro
a

ch

To
o

N
or
m
al

Ap

2
pr
o

ac
h

Intercept normal glidepath

Reduce power smoothly
Resume normal approach

Pa
th

Lo
w
)

34
Figure 11-36. Right and wrong methods of correction for low final approach.

Whenever a low-speed approach is noted, the pilot should

apply power and accelerate the aircraft to reduce the sink rate
to prevent a stall. This should be done while still at a high
enough altitude to reestablish the correct approach airspeed
and attitude. If too slow and too low, it is best to execute a
go-around.

is added, the momentary decrease in lift that would result

from lowering the nose and decreasing the AOA may be
so great that the aircraft might contact the ground with the
nosewheel rst, which could then collapse. As for all landing
maneuvers that are questionable and the outcome is uncertain,
it is recommended that a go-around be executed.

Use of Power
Power can be used if required during the approach and
roundout to compensate for errors in judgment. The pilot
should be ready to use the foot throttle while managing the
energy throughout the landing, utilizing energy management
procedures for the current landing conditions. Power can be
added to reduce the descent rate if needed; thus, the descent
can be slowed to an acceptable rate. After the aircraft has
touched down, it is necessary to close the throttle to remove
additional thrust and lift allowing the aircraft to stay on the
ground.

Late or Rapid Roundout

Starting the roundout too late or pushing the control forward
too rapidly to prevent the aircraft from touching down
prematurely balloons the aircraft up above the runway.
Suddenly increasing the AOA and stalling the aircraft during
a roundout is a dangerous situation since it may cause the
aircraft to land extremely hard on the main landing gear and
then bounce back into the air.

High Roundout
Sometimes when the aircraft appears to stop moving downward
temporarily, the roundout has been made too rapidly and the
aircraft is ying level, too high and too slow above the runway.
Continuing the roundout would further reduce the airspeed,
resulting in an increase in AOA to the critical angle. This
would result in the aircraft stalling and dropping hard onto
the runway. To prevent the hard drop, pitch attitude should
be reduced slightly to increase speed to approach speed while
throttle is added to maintain altitude. After speed has been
increased and altitude maintained, the throttle and speed can
both be reduced smoothly and gradually for a gradual descent
with a normal roundout and touchdown.
Although speed is needed after the high roundout is noticed in
order to be corrected, the power application must be enough to
remain level and not initially descend as the speed is increased.
Energy management prociency is critical. If too little throttle
11-28

Recovery from this situation requires prompt and positive

application of power and a lowering of the nose to increase
speed prior to occurrence of the stall. This may be followed
by a normal landing, if sufcient runway is available, similar
to the high roundout discussed aboveotherwise the pilot
should immediately execute a go-around.
Floating During Roundout
If the airspeed on nal approach is excessive, it usually results
in the aircraft oating in ground effect. This is not a problem
if there is plenty of runway and if the pilot oats with the
wheels just inches above the surface. Simply maintain this
position inches above the runway, slowly rounding out as
required until the speed bleeds off for a normal touchdown.
If conditions are turbulent, the nose can be lowered gradually
and the aircraft own onto the ground, as discussed earlier
in the landing in turbulence procedures.
If the aircraft is well past the desired landing point and
the available runway is insufcient, perform a go-around
immediately.

Ballooning During Roundout

If the pilot misjudges the rate of sink during a landing and
thinks the aircraft is descending faster than it should, there
is a tendency to increase the pitch attitude and AOA too
rapidly. This not only stops the descent, but actually starts
the aircraft climbing. This climbing during the roundout is
known as ballooning. Ballooning can be dangerous because
the height above the ground is increasing and the aircraft may
be rapidly approaching a stall. The altitude gained in each
instance depends on the airspeed or the speed with which the
pitch attitude is increased.
When ballooning is slight, the nose should be lowered to
increase speed and return to a gradual descent. Recovery
procedures are similar to those for rounding out too high:
lowering the nose slightly and increasing the throttle to
remain level. Then, the pilot gradually reduces throttle and
speed for a controlled descent rate with the throttle at idle
during touchdown.
When ballooning is excessive, it is best to execute a goaround immediately; do not attempt to salvage the landing.
Full power must be applied and the nose lowered before the
aircraft enters a stalled condition.
The pilot must be extremely cautious of ballooning when
there is a crosswind present because the crosswind correction
may be inadvertently released or it may become inadequate.
Because of the lower airspeed after ballooning, the crosswind
affects the aircraft more. Consequently, crabbing has to
be increased to compensate for the increased drift. It is
imperative that the pilot makes certain that directional control
is maintained. If there is any doubt, or the aircraft starts to
drift, execute a go-around.
Bouncing During Touchdown
When the aircraft contacts the ground with a sharp impact
as the result of an improper attitude or an excessive rate
of sink, it can bounce back into the air. The severity of the
bounce depends on the airspeed at the moment of contact
and the rebound attitude the WSC aircraft. It can increase the
AOA and, in addition to bouncing, be lifted. It can rebound
in a yawed condition and/or nose up or down. Design and
situational factors create their own unique scenarios.
The corrective action for a bounce is the same as for
ballooning and similarly depends on its severity. When the
bounce is very slight and there is not an extreme change in the
aircrafts pitch attitude, a follow-up landing may be executed
by applying sufcient power to cushion the subsequent
touchdown and smoothly adjusting the pitch to the proper
touchdown attitude.

Extreme caution and attention must be exercised any time a

bounce occurs, but particularly when there is a crosswind.
During the bounce, the wind causes the aircraft to roll with
the wind, thus exposing even more surface to the crosswind
and drifting the aircraft more rapidly.
When a bounce is severe, the safest procedure is to execute
a go-around immediately. No attempt to salvage the landing
should be made. Full power should be applied while
simultaneously maintaining directional control and lowering
the nose to a safe climb attitude. The go-around procedure
should be continued even though the aircraft may descend and
another bounce may be encountered. It would be extremely
foolish to attempt a landing from a bad bounce since airspeed
diminishes very rapidly in the nose-high attitude, and a stall
may occur before a subsequent touchdown could be made.
Porpoising
In a bounced landing that is improperly recovered, the
aircraft comes in nose rst, setting off a series of motions that
imitate the jumps and dives of a porpoisehence the name.
The problem is improper aircraft attitude at touchdown,
sometimes caused by inattention, not knowing where the
ground is, or forcing the aircraft onto the runway at an
exceedingly high descent rate.
Porpoising can also be caused by improper airspeed control.
Usually, if an approach is too fast, the aircraft oats and the
pilot tries to force it on the runway when the aircraft still tends
to y. A gust of wind, a bump in the runway, or even a slight
push on the control bar sends the aircraft aloft again.
The corrective action for a porpoise is the same as for a
bounce, and similarly depends on its severity. When it is very
slight with no extreme change in the aircrafts pitch attitude,
a follow-up landing may be executed by applying sufcient
power to cushion the subsequent touchdown, and smoothly
adjusting the pitch to the proper touchdown attitude.
When a porpoise is severe, the safest procedure is to execute
an immediate go-around. In a severe porpoise, the aircrafts
pitch oscillations can become progressively worse until the
aircraft strikes the runway nose rst with sufcient force
to collapse the nose gear. Pilot attempts to correct a severe
porpoise with ight control and power inputs will most
likely be untimely and out of sequence with the oscillations,
only making the situation worse. No attempt to salvage the
landing should be made. Full power should be applied while
simultaneously maintaining directional control and lowering
the nose to a safe climb attitude.

11-29

Wing Rising After Touchdown

In all the proper landing techniques except the soft eld, the
nose is lowered after the front wheel touches to put a negative
AOA on the wing and keep the WSC aircraft on the ground.
However, there may be instances when landing in a crosswind
that a wing wants to rise during the after-landing roll. This
may occur whether or not there is a loss of directional control
depending on the amount of crosswind and the degree of
corrective action.
Any time an aircraft is rolling on the ground in a crosswind
condition, the upwind wing is receiving a greater force
from the wind than the downwind wing. This causes a lift
differential. Also, as the upwind wing rises, there is an
increase in the AOA which increases lift on the upwind wing
rolling the aircraft downwind.
When the effects of these two factors are great enough, the
upwind wing may rise even though directional control is
maintained. If no correction is applied, it is possible that the
upwind wing rises sufciently to cause the downwind wing
to strike the ground.
In a crosswind, the windward wing should be lowered
slightly as a preventive measure to avoid it from lifting. But
in the event a wing starts to rise during the landing roll, the
pilot should immediately lower the nose while lowering the
wing. The wing should be lowered as soon as possible. The
further a wing is allowed to rise before taking corrective
action, the more wing surface is exposed to the force of the
crosswind.
Hard Landing
When the aircraft contacts the ground during landings, its
vertical speed is instantly reduced to zero. Unless provisions
are made to slow this vertical speed and cushion the impact
of touchdown, the force of contact with the ground may be
so great it could cause structural damage to the aircraft.
The purpose of pneumatic tires, shock-absorbing landing
gears, and other devices is to cushion the impact and to
increase the time in which the aircrafts vertical descent is
stopped. The importance of this cushion may be understood
from the computation that a 6-inch free fall on landing is

11-30

roughly equal to a descent of 340 feet per minute. Within a

fraction of a second, the aircraft must be slowed from this
rate of vertical descent to zero without damage.
During this time, the landing gear together with some aid from
the lift of the wings must supply whatever force is needed
to counteract the force of the aircrafts inertia and weight.
The lift decreases rapidly as the aircrafts forward speed is
decreased and the force on the landing gear increases by the
impact of touchdown. When the descent stops, the lift is
almost zero leaving only the landing gear to carry both aircraft
weight and inertia force. The load imposed at the instant
of touchdown may easily be three or four times the actual
weight of the aircraft, depending on the severity of contact.
After a hard landing, the WSC carriage and wing should be
inspected by qualied personnel for airworthiness.

Chapter Summary
All landings should consist of evaluating the wind and
conditions so a proper base and nal are planned to land at
or beyond the intended point. After the nal approach to the
runway, the roundout is started about 10 to 15 feet high and
is a gradual descent until the rear wheels are inches above
the surface. The rotation is continued as the speed bleeds off
to maintain the wheels one to two inches above the runway
until minimum controlled airspeed at which the WSC aircraft
settles to the ground. A roundout that is too fast, or ballooning
where altitude is gained during the landing, is a common
mistake and should be avoided.
The best landing technique for light wind conditions is with
power brought to idle during the downwind leg of the pattern
before the turn to base. Prociency in power-off accuracy
landings with 90 turns, 180 turns, 360 turns, and circling
from above are all important safety procedures.
Crosswinds or landing in turbulence requires more energy,
including power-on approaches with higher airspeeds.
In these conditions, the WSC aircraft can be own into
the ground above the stall speed. Go-arounds are normal
procedures and should be performed if there is any question
as to the successful outcome of any landing.

Chapter 12

Night Operations
Introduction
It must be understood that ying at night presents a number
of new challenges for the pilot and additional equipment for
the aircraft. Flying at night in a weight-shift control (WSC)
aircraft should be done only with some visual reference
to the ground such as city lights or a full moon. Flying
with no consistent visual reference to the surface results in
disorientation, a likely loss of control, and an accident. New
WSC aircraft can be tted with instruments similar to those
in airplanes in order to y at night without visual reference
to the horizon, but this is not recommended. However, ying
with instruments is covered in this chapter.

12-1

Pilot Requirements
Flying at night requires additional pilot skills and a private
pilot certicate. It is possible to have a private pilot certicate
with a Night Flight Prohibited limitation if the pilot did
not complete night ight training and is restricted from night
ight, similar to that for Sport Pilots. This is an option for
pilots who want a private pilot certicate but do not plan to
y at night. If the pilot rst obtains the private certicate
with the night limitation, the limitation can be removed after
completing the private pilot WSC night training. The training
that must be accomplished at night for WSC private pilot
night ying privileges is:
1.

One cross-country ight over 75 nautical miles (NM)

total distance, and

2.

Ten takeoffs and landings (each landing involving a

ight in the trafc pattern) at an airport.

Sport pilots or private pilots with the night limitation are not
allowed to y at night; however, they can y after sunset
during civil twilight until night if the aircraft is properly
equipped with position lights. Civil twilight is when the sun
is less than 6 below the horizon, about 30 minutes before
sunrise or after sunset, and varies by latitude throughout
the year. It is the time when there is enough light outdoors
for activities to be conducted without additional lighting.
[Figure 12-1] If it is overcast and visibility is inadequate,
good pilot judgment would dictate not to y after sunset.

Equipment and Lighting

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91
species the minimum aircraft equipment required for ight
during civil twilight and night ight. This equipment includes
only position lights. Normal standard category aircraft are
required to have this additional equipment as would also be
recommended for WSC night ight, including anti-collision

light, landing lights, adequate electrical source for lights, and

spare fuses. The standard instruments required for instrument
ight under 14 CFR part 91 are a valuable asset for aircraft
control at night but are not required.
Aircraft position lights are required on all aircraft from sunset
to sunrise in an arrangement similar to those on boats and
ships. A red light is positioned on the left wing tip, a green
light on the right wing tip, and a white light on the tail.
[Figures 12-2 and 12-3] This arrangement allows the pilot
to determine the general direction of movement of other
aircraft in ight. If both position lights of another aircraft
are observed, a red light on the right and a green light on the
left, the aircraft is ying toward the pilot and could be on a
collision course. Similarly, a green light on the right and a
red light on the left indicate the aircraft is ying in the same
direction as the pilot observing the lights. Landing lights
are not only useful for taxi, takeoffs, and landings, but also
provide an additional means by which aircraft can be seen
at night by other pilots. [Figure 12-4]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated
a voluntary pilot safety program called Operation Lights
On. The lights on idea is to enhance the see and be seen
concept of averting collisions in the air and on the ground and
to reduce the potential for bird strikes. Pilots are encouraged
to turn on their landing lights when operating within 10 miles
of an airport. This is for both day and night or in conditions
of reduced visibility. This should also be done in areas where
ocks of birds may be expected.
Although turning on aircraft lights supports the see and be
seen concept, pilots should not become complacent about
keeping a sharp lookout for other aircraft. Most aircraft lights
blend in with stars or city lights at night and go unnoticed

Sport pilots and private pilots with night restriction can fly

Day

Figure 12-1. Day, twilight, and night time.

12-2

Sunset/Sunrise

Aircraft must have position lights

Civil Twlight

Night

Figure 12-2. Position lights.

Figure 12-3. Modern LED position lights on carriage wheel pants

unless a conscious effort is made to distinguish them from

other lights.

simplify the installation with no wires running from the carriage

to the wing tips.

Pilot Equipment
Before beginning a night ight, carefully consider personal
equipment that should be readily available during the ight.

At least one reliable ashlight is recommended as standard

equipment on all night ights. Remember to place a spare
set of batteries in the ight kit. A spare ashlight is the better
choice, eliminating the need to change batteries during ight.

Figure 12-4. Landing light on WSC aircraft taxiing at night.

12-3

A D-cell size ashlight with a bulb switching mechanism that

can be used for white or red light is preferable. The white light
is used while performing the preight visual inspection on
the ground, and the red light is used when performing ight
deck operations. Since the red light is nonglaring, it does not
impair night vision. Some pilots prefer two ashlights, one
with a white light for preight and the other a penlight with
a red light. The latter can be suspended by a string around
the neck to ensure the light is always readily available. Be
aware that if a red light is used for reading an aeronautical
chart, the red features of the chart will not show up.
Aeronautical charts are essential for night cross-country ight
and, if the intended course is near the edge of the chart, the
adjacent chart should also be available. The lights of cities
and towns can be seen at surprising distances at night, and if
this adjacent chart is not available to identify those landmarks,
confusion could result. Regardless of the equipment used,
organization of the ight deck eases the burden on the pilot
and enhances safety. [Figure 12-5]
Airport and Navigation Lighting Aids
The lighting systems used for airports, runways, obstructions,
and other visual aids at night are other important aspects of
night ying.

Lighted airports located away from congested areas can be

identied readily at night by the lights outlining the runways.
Airports located near or within large cities are often difcult
to identify in the maze of lights. It is important to know the
exact location of an airport relative to the city, and also be
able to identify these airports by the characteristics of their
lighting pattern.
Aeronautical lights are designed and installed in a variety
of colors and congurations, each having its own purpose.
Although some lights are used only during low ceiling and
visibility conditions, this discussion includes only the lights
that are fundamental to visual flight rules (VFR) night
operation.
It is recommended that prior to a night ight, and particularly
a cross-country night ight, the pilot check the availability
and status of lighting systems at the destination airport. This
information can be found on aeronautical charts and in the
Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD). The status of each facility
can be determined by reviewing pertinent Notices to Airmen
(NOTAMs).
A rotating beacon is used to indicate the location of most
airports. The beacon rotates at a constant speed, thus

Figure 12-5. WSC aircraft equipped for night cross-country flight with flashlight and aeronautical charts on kneeboards.

12-4

producing what appears to be a series of light ashes at

regular intervals. These ashes may be one or two different
colors that are used to identify various types of landing areas.
For example:

Lighted civilian land airportsalternating white and

green

Lighted civilian water airportsalternating white and

yellow

Lighted military airportsalternating white and

green, but are differentiated from civil airports by
dual peaked (two quick) white ashes, then green

Beacons producing red ashes indicate obstructions or areas

considered hazardous to aerial navigation. Steady burning
red lights are used to mark obstructions on or near airports
and sometimes to supplement ashing lights on en route
obstructions. High intensity ashing white lights are used to
mark some supporting structures of overhead transmission
lines that stretch across rivers, chasms, and gorges. These
high intensity lights are also used to identify tall structures,
such as chimneys and towers.
As a result of technological advancements in aviation,
runway lighting systems have become quite sophisticated
to accommodate takeoffs and landings in various weather
conditions. However, the pilot whose ying is limited to VFR
needs to be concerned only with the following basic lighting
of runways and taxiways.
The basic runway lighting system consists of two straight
parallel lines of runway-edge lights dening the lateral limits of
the runway. These lights are aviation white, although aviation
yellow may be substituted for a distance of 2,000 feet from
the far end of the runway to indicate a caution zone. At some
airports, the intensity of the runway-edge lights can be adjusted
to satisfy the individual needs of the pilot. The length limits
of the runway are dened by straight lines of lights across the
runway ends. At some airports, the runway threshold lights are
aviation green, and the runway end lights are aviation red.
At many airports, the taxiways are also lighted. A taxiwayedge lighting system consists of blue lights that outline
the usable limits of taxi paths. See the Pilots Handbook
of Aeronautical Knowledge for additional information on
airport lighting.

Night Vision

eyes correctly and know their limitations, night vision can

be improved signicantly. The human eye is constructed so
that day vision is different from night vision. Therefore, it is
important to understand the eyes construction and how the
eye is affected by darkness.
Innumerable light-sensitive nerves called cones and rods are
located at the back of the eye or retina, a layer upon which all
images are focused. These nerves connect to the cells of the
optic nerve, which transmits messages directly to the brain.
The cones are located in the center of the retina, and the rods
are concentrated in a ring around the cones. [Figure 12-6]
The function of the cones is to detect color, details, and
faraway objects. The rods function when something is seen
out of the corner of the eye or peripheral vision. They detect
objects, particularly those that are moving, but do not give
detail or coloronly shades of gray. Both the cones and the
rods are used for vision during daylight.
Although there is not a clear-cut division of function, the rods
make night vision possible. The rods and cones function in
daylight and in moonlight; in the absence of normal light,
the process of night vision is almost entirely a function of
the rods.
The fact that the rods are distributed in a band around the
cones and do not lie directly behind the pupils makes offcenter viewing (looking to one side of an object) important
during night ight. During daylight, an object can be seen
best by looking directly at it, but at night a scanning procedure
to permit off-center viewing of the object is more effective.
Therefore, the pilot should consciously practice this scanning
procedure to improve night vision.
The eyes adaptation to darkness is another important aspect
of night vision. When a dark room is entered, it is difcult to
see anything until the eyes become adjusted to the darkness.
In the adaptation process, the pupils of the eyes rst enlarge
to receive as much of the available light as possible. After
approximately 5 to 10 minutes, the cones become adjusted to
the dim light and the eyes become 100 times more sensitive
to light than they were before the dark room was entered.
About 30 minutes is needed for the rods to become adjusted
to darkness; when they do adjust, they are about 100,000
times more sensitive to light than in the lighted area. After
the adaptation process is complete, much more can be seen,
especially if the eyes are used correctly.

Generally, most pilots are poorly informed about night vision.

Human eyes never function as effectively at night as the eyes
of nocturnal animals, but if humans learn how to use their

12-5

The rods and

cones (film) of
the retina are
the receptors
which record
the image and
transmit it
through the
optic nerve to
the brain for
interpretation.

Rods and
Cones

Fovea
(All Cones)

Rod concentration

Lens
Iris

Optic nerve
Retina
Pupil

Cornea

The pupil (aperture) is the opening at

the center of the iris. The size of the
pupil is adjusted to control the amount
of light entering the eye.

Light passes through the cornea (the

transparent window on the front of the
eye) and then through the lens to
focus on the retina.

Area of best
night vision

Area of best day vision

Night blind spot

Cones active

Rods active

Figure 12-6. Rods and cones.

After the eyes have adapted to the dark, the entire process
is reversed when entering a lighted room. The eyes are rst
dazzled by the brightness, but become completely adjusted
in a few seconds, thereby losing their adaptation to the dark.
Now, if the dark room is reentered, the eyes again go through
the long process of adapting to the darkness.
Before and during night ight, the pilot must consider the
adaptation process of the eyes. First, the eyes should be
allowed to adapt to the low level of light. Then, the pilot
should avoid exposing them to any bright white light that
would cause temporary blindness and possibly result in
serious consequences.
Temporary blindness, caused by an unusually bright light,
may result in illusions or afterimages until the eyes recover

12-6

from the brightness. The brain creates these illusions

reported by the eyes. This results in misjudging or incorrectly
identifying objects, such as mistaking slanted clouds for the
horizon or a populated area for a landing eld. Vertigo is
experienced as a feeling of dizziness and imbalance that can
create or increase illusions. The illusions seem very real and
pilots at every level of experience and skill can be affected.
Recognizing that the brain and eyes can play tricks in this
manner is the best protection for ying at night.
Good eyesight depends upon physical condition. Fatigue,
colds, vitamin deciency, alcohol, stimulants, smoking, or
medication can seriously impair vision. Keeping these facts
in mind and taking appropriate precautions should help
safeguard night vision.

In addition to the principles previously discussed, the following

actions aid in increasing night vision effectiveness:

Adapt the eyes to darkness prior to ight, and keep

them adapted. About 30 minutes is needed to adjust
the eyes to maximum efciency after exposure to a
bright light.

Use oxygen during night ying, if available. Keep in

mind that a signicant deterioration in night vision
can occur at altitudes as low as 5,000 feet.

Close one eye when exposed to bright light to help

avoid the blinding effect.

Avoid wearing sunglasses after sunset.

Move the eyes more slowly than in daylight.

Blink the eyes if vision becomes blurred.

Concentrate on seeing objects.

Force the eyes to view off center.

Maintain good physical condition.

Avoid smoking, drinking, and using drugs that may

be harmful.

Night Illusions
In addition to night vision limitations, pilots should be aware
that night illusions could cause confusion and concerns
during night ying. The following discussion covers some
of the common situations that cause illusions associated with
night ying.
A false horizon can occur when the natural horizon is obscured
or not readily apparent. It can be generated by confusing
bright stars and city lights. It can also occur while ying
toward the shore of an ocean or a large lake. Because of the
relative darkness of the water, the lights along the shoreline
can be mistaken for stars in the sky. [Figure 12-7]

Unique WSC Flight Characteristics

If the WSC aircraft is trimmed properly and the pilot is
procient in the basic ight maneuvers of climbs, cruise,
and descent procedures, the WSC aircraft speed is easily
determined with control bar pressure and position for normal
ight conditions. A pilot can also determine basic climbs and
descents through the feel of the aircraft with the airspeed and
throttle positions. Therefore, basic pitch control can be done
by a procient pilot with his or her eyes closed.
As discussed in Chapter 2, Aerodynamics, WSC aircraft
are generally not designed to be roll stable, and any engine
turning effect or movement of the air can put the WSC aircraft
into a roll, which it maintains unless corrected by the pilot.
In other words, releasing the control bar in a WSC aircraft
will not level a bank back to straight ight. The pilot must
continually provide input to y a constant heading even if this
control is small corrections. In other words, the pilot cannot
level the wings or y a straight heading for very long with
his or her eyes closed.
To maintain a constant heading or ground track, one of
three instruments can be used: magnetic compass, global
positioning system (GPS), and aircraft heading indicator.
Without a visual reference, these can be used to y straight.
An attitude indicator can be used on WSC aircraft providing
additional instrument reference. These instruments and others
are discussed later in this chapter.

Figure 12-7. At night, the horizon may be hard to discern due to dark
terrain and misleading light patterns on the ground.

On a clear night, distant stationary lights can be mistaken for

stars or other aircraft. Even the northern lights can confuse a
pilot and indicate a false horizon. Certain geometrical patterns
of ground lights, such as a freeway, runway, approach, or
even lights on a moving train can cause confusion. Dark
nights tend to eliminate reference to a visual horizon. As a
result, pilots need to rely less on outside references at night
and more on ight and navigation instruments.
Visual autokinesis can occur when a pilot stares at a single
light source for several seconds on a dark night. The result
is that the light appears to be moving. The autokinesis effect
does not occur if the pilot expands the visual eld. It is a
good procedure to vary visual focus and not become xed
on one source of light.

12-7

Distractions and problems can result from a flickering

light in the ight deck, such as anticollision lights, strobe
lights, or other aircraft lights which can cause flicker
vertigo. If continuous, the possible physical reactions can
be nausea, dizziness, grogginess, confusion, headaches, or
unconsciousness. The pilot should try to eliminate any light
source causing blinking or ickering problems in the ight
deck.
A black-hole approach occurs when the landing is made
from over water or unlighted terrain on which runway lights
are the only sources of light. Without peripheral visual cues
to help, pilots have trouble orienting themselves relative to
Earth. The runway can seem out of position (downsloping or
upsloping) and, in the worst case, result in landing short of the
runway. If an electronic glideslope or visual approach slope
indicator (VASI) is available, it should be used. If navigation
aids (NAVAIDs) are unavailable, careful attention should be
given to using the ight instruments to assist in maintaining
orientation and a normal approach. If at any time the pilot is
unsure of his or her position or attitude, a go-around should
be executed.
Bright runway and approach lighting systems, especially
where few lights illuminate the surrounding terrain, may
create the illusion of less distance to the runway. In this
situation, the tendency is to y a higher approach. Also,
when ying over terrain with only a few lights, it makes the
runway recede or appear farther away. With this situation,
the tendency is common to y a lower-than-normal approach.
If the runway has a city in the distance on higher terrain, the
tendency is to y a lower-than-normal approach. A good
review of the aireld layout and boundaries before initiating
any approach helps the pilot maintain a safe approach
angle.
Illusions created by runway lights result in a variety
of problems. Bright lights or bold colors advance the
runway, making it appear closer. Night landings are further
complicated by the difculty of judging distance and the
possibility of confusing approach and runway lights. For
example, when a double row of approach lights joins the
boundary lights of the runway, there can be confusion where
the approach lights terminate and runway lights begin. Under
certain conditions, approach lights can make the aircraft seem
higher in a turn to nal than when its wings are level.

Preparation and Preight

Night ying requires that pilots be aware of and operate within
their abilities and limitations. Although careful planning of
any ight is essential, night ying demands more attention
to the details of preight preparation and planning.

12-8

Preparation for a night ight should include a thorough

review of the available weather reports and forecasts with
particular attention given to temperature-dew point spread.
A narrow temperature-dew point spread may indicate the
possibility of ground fog. Emphasis should also be placed on
wind direction and speed, since wind effects on the aircraft
cannot be as easily detected at night as during the day.
On night cross-country ights, appropriate aeronautical
charts should be selected, including the appropriate adjacent
charts. Course lines should be drawn in black to be more
distinguishable.
Prominently lighted checkpoints along the prepared course
should be noted. Rotating beacons at airports, lighted
obstructions, lights of cities or towns, and lights from major
highway trafc all provide excellent visual checkpoints. The
use of a GPS with a lighted screen adds signicantly to the
safety and efciency of night ying.
All personal equipment should be checked prior to ight to
ensure proper functioning. It is very disconcerting to nd at
the time of need that a ashlight does not work.
All aircraft lights should be turned on momentarily and
checked for operation. Position lights can be checked for
loose connections by tapping the light xture. If the lights
blink while being tapped, further investigation to determine
the cause should be made prior to ight.
The parking ramp should be examined prior to entering the
aircraft. During the day, it is quite easy to see stepladders,
chuckholes, wheel chocks, and other obstructions, but at
night it is more difcult. A check of the area can prevent
taxiing mishaps.

Starting, Taxiing, and Runup

After the pilot is seated in the ight deck and prior to starting
the engine, all items and materials to be used on the ight
should be arranged in such a manner that they will be readily
available and convenient to use.
Extra caution should be taken at night to assure the propeller
area is clear. Turning the rotating beacon on or ashing the
aircraft position lights serves to alert persons nearby to remain
clear of the propeller. To avoid excessive drain of electrical
current from the battery, it is recommended that unnecessary
electrical equipment be turned off until after the engine has
been started.

After starting and before taxiing, the taxi or landing light

should be turned on. Continuous use of the landing light with
revolutions per minute (rpm) power settings normally used
for taxiing may place an excessive drain on the aircrafts
electrical system. Also, overheating of the landing light could
become a problem because of inadequate airow to carry the
heat away. Landing lights should be used as necessary while
taxiing. When using landing lights, consideration should be
given to not blinding other pilots. Taxi slowly, particularly
in congested areas. If taxi lines are painted on the ramp or
taxiway, these lines should be followed to ensure a proper
path along the route.
The before takeoff and runup should be performed using the
checklist. During the day, forward movement of the aircraft
can be detected easily. At night, the aircraft could creep
forward without being noticed unless the pilot is alert for this
possibility. Hold or lock the brakes during the runup and be
alert for any forward movement. [Figure 12-8]

instruments and switches but not hinder the pilots outside

vision. This also eliminates light reections on the windshield
and instruments.
After ensuring that the nal approach and runway are clear
of other air trafc, or when cleared for takeoff by the tower,
the landing lights and taxi lights should be turned on and the
WSC aircraft lined up with the centerline of the runway. If
the runway does not have centerline lighting, use the painted
centerline and the runway edge lights. After the aircraft
is aligned, the heading indicator should be noted or set to
correspond to the known runway direction. The magnetic
compass should read the exact direction of the runway. The
GPS does not provide meaningful information while stopped
or turning because it measures ground track and needs to be
moving to register enough points to provide accurate data.
To begin the takeoff, the brakes should be released and the
throttle smoothly advanced to maximum allowable power.
As the aircraft accelerates, it should be kept moving straight
ahead between and parallel to the runway-edge lights.
The procedure for night takeoffs is the same as for normal
daytime takeoffs except that many of the runway visual cues
are not available. Therefore, the airspeed ight instrument
can be checked during the takeoff roll to ensure the proper
airspeed in being obtained. As the airspeed reaches the
normal lift-off speed, the pitch attitude should be adjusted
to that which establishes a normal climb. This should be
accomplished by using the normal control bar position for the
desired climb speed. After liftoff, instruments can be checked
for proper heading, and airspeed. [Figures 12-9 and 12-10]
The darkness of night often makes it difcult to note whether
the airborne aircraft is getting closer to or farther from
the surface. To ensure the aircraft continues in a positive
climb, be sure a climb is indicated on the attitude indicator
(if equipped), vertical speed indicator (VSI), and altimeter.
It is also important to ensure the airspeed is at best climb
speed.

Figure 12-8. Reviewing before-takeoff checklist, which is included

for the flight with the sectional charts on the kneeboard.

Takeoff and Climb

Night ying is very different from day ying and demands
more attention of the pilot. The most noticeable difference
is the limited availability of outside visual references.
Therefore, ight instruments should be used as a reference
in controlling the aircraft. This is particularly true on night
takeoffs and climbs. The ight deck lights should be adjusted
to a minimum brightness that allows the pilot to read the

Necessary pitch and bank adjustments should be made by

referencing the attitude, heading, or ground track indicators.
Heading indicators include both the aircraft heading indicators
and the magnetic compass. Once the aircraft starts moving
and establishing a ground track straight down the runway, the
GPS has data points to establish a ground track and becomes
useful once in ight. It is recommended that turns not be
made until reaching a safe maneuvering altitude.
Although the use of the landing lights provides help during
the takeoff, they become ineffective soon after liftoff when

12-9

30

90
80

40
50

70
60

Figure 12-9. Classic instrument gauges for WSC aircraft.

29.8
29.9
30.0

pilot ying under VFR must exercise caution to

avoid ying into clouds or a layer of fog. Usually,
the first indication of flying into restricted
visibility conditions is the gradual disappearance
of lights on the ground. If the lights begin to take
on an appearance of being surrounded by a halo
or glow, the pilot should use caution in attempting
further ight in that same direction. Such a halo
or glow around lights on the ground is indicative
of ground fog. Remember that if a descent to land
must be made through fog, smoke, or haze, the
horizontal visibility is considerably less. Under
no circumstances should a night ight be made
during poor or marginal weather conditions.
The pilot should practice and acquire competency
in straight-and-level ight, climbs and descents,
level turns, climbing and descending turns, and
steep turns. The pilot should also practice these
maneuvers with all the ight deck lights turned
off. This blackout training is necessary if the
pilot experiences an electrical or instrument light
failure. Training should also include using the
navigation equipment and local NAVAIDs.
In spite of fewer references or checkpoints, night
cross-country ights do not present particular
problems if preplanning is adequate, and the pilot
continues to monitor position, time estimates, and
fuel consumption. The GPS is the most valuable
instrument for day and night cross-country ying.
For night cross-country ying, spare batteries or
a GPS hooked to the aircraft electric system with
a battery backup is recommended. NAVAIDs,

Figure 12-10. Digital panel instrument gauges for WSC aircraft.

the aircraft has climbed to an altitude at which the light

beam no longer extends to the surface. The light can cause
distortion when it is reected by haze, smoke, or fog that
might exist in the climb. Therefore, when the landing light
is used for the takeoff, it may be turned off after the climb is
well established provided other trafc in the area does not
require its use for collision avoidance.
A properly lit instrument panel and visual reference to the
ground with city lights are recommended for night ying.
[Figure 12-11]

Orientation and Navigation

At night, it is usually difcult to see clouds and restrictions to
visibility, particularly on dark nights or under overcast. The

12-10

Figure 12-11. A properly lit instrument panel and city lights provide

recommended conditions for night flying.

if available, should also be used to assist in monitoring en

route progress.
Crossing large bodies of water at night in single-engine
aircraft is hazardous and not recommended by day or night.
This is from the standpoint of landing (ditching) in the water,
but especially at night because with little or no lighting the
horizon blends with the water making depth perception and
orientation difcult. During poor visibility conditions over
water, the horizon becomes obscure and may result in a loss
of orientation. Even on clear nights, the stars may be reected
on the water surface which could appear as a continuous array
of lights making the horizon difcult to identify.
Lighted runways, buildings, or other objects may cause
illusions when seen from different altitudes. At an altitude
of 2,000 feet, a group of lights on an object may be seen
individually; while at 5,000 feet or higher, the same lights
could appear to be one solid light mass. These illusions
may become quite acute with altitude changes and, if not
overcome, could present problems in respect to approaches
to lighted runways.
Figure 12-12. Use light patterns for orientation.

Approaches and Landings

When approaching the airport to enter the trafc pattern and
land, it is important that the runway lights and other airport
lighting be identied as early as possible. If the airport layout
is unfamiliar to the pilot, sighting of the runway may be
difcult until very close-in due to the maze of lights observed
in the area. [Figure 12-12] The pilot should y toward the
rotating beacon until the lights outlining the runway are
distinguishable. To y a trafc pattern of proper size and
direction, the runway threshold and runway-edge lights must
be positively identied. Once the airport lights are seen, these
lights should be kept in sight throughout the approach.
Distance may be deceptive at night due to limited lighting
conditions. A lack of intervening references on the ground
and the inability of the pilot to compare the size and location
of different ground objects cause this. This also applies to
the estimation of altitude and speed. Consequently, more
dependence must be placed on ight instruments, particularly
the altimeter and the airspeed indicator.
When entering the trafc pattern, allow for plenty of time to
complete the before landing checklist. If the heading indicator
contains a heading bug, setting it to the runway heading is
an excellent reference for the pattern legs.
Every effort should be made to maintain the recommended
airspeeds and execute the approach and landing in the
same manner as during the day. A low, shallow approach
is denitely inappropriate during a night operation. The

altimeter and VSI should be constantly cross-checked against

the aircrafts position along the base leg and nal approach.
A visual approach slope indicator (VASI) is an indispensable
aid in alerting a pilot of too low of a glidepath. The typical
VASI is set to 3 for the recommended aircraft approach. This
19 to 1 glide ratio is too low for a WSC aircraft. A normal
glide ratio for WSC aircraft is 5 to 1, which is 11, much
higher than the normal 3 to 4 used by aircraft. Therefore,
for WSC VASI nal approaches both white lights should
be visible. If a pilot sees red over white, or especially both
reds, the approach is too low and altitude should be gained,
or at least maintained to get above the normal VASI 3 to
4 approach at night. This steeper approach allows the WSC
aircraft to glide to the runway and land safely in the event of
engine failure. [Figure 12-13]
After turning onto the nal approach and aligning the aircraft
midway between the two rows of runway-edge lights, the
pilot should note and correct for any wind drift. Throughout
the final approach, pitch and power should be used to
maintain a stabilized approach. Usually, halfway through
the nal approach, the landing light should be turned on.
Earlier use of the landing light may be necessary because of
Operation Lights On or for local trafc considerations. The
landing light is sometimes ineffective since the light beam
usually does not reach the ground from higher altitudes.
The light may even be reected back into the pilots eyes
by any existing haze, smoke, or fog. This disadvantage is
overshadowed by the safety considerations provided by using
the Operation Lights On procedure around other trafc.
12-11

Below Aircraft Glidepath

On Aircraft Glidepath

Above Aircraft Glidepath

Red over redbelow the normal

aircraft glidepath, dangerously low
and must climb

Far bar is red and near bar

is whiteon the normal aircraft
glidepath, which is lower than the
WSC aircraft power-off glidepath

Both light bars are whiteabove the

normal aircraft glidepath, which is
recomended for WSC aircraft in
case of engine failure.
Use stabilized approach.

Figure 12-13. VASI.

The approach and landings should be made in the same

manner as in day landings as discussed in Chapter 11,
Approaches and Landings. At night, the judgment of height,
speed, and sink rate is impaired by the scarcity of observable
objects in the landing area. The inexperienced pilot may have
a tendency to round out too high until attaining familiarity
with the proper height for the correct roundout. To aid
in night landings, approach with power on to reduce the
descent rate providing more time for the pilot to see the
runway and start the roundout once the runway is visible.
To aid in determining the proper roundout point, continue
a constant approach descent until the landing lights reect
on the runway and tire marks on the runway can be clearly
seen. At this point, the roundout should be started smoothly
and the throttle gradually reduced to idle as the aircraft is
touching down. [Figure 12-14] During landings without the
use of landing lights, the roundout may be started when the
runway lights at the far end of the runway rst appear to be
rising higher than the nose of the aircraft. This demands a
smooth and very timely roundout, and requires that the pilot
feel for the runway surface using power and pitch changes,
as necessary, for the aircraft to settle slowly to the runway.
Blackout landings should always be included in night pilot
training as an emergency procedure.

12-12

Night Emergencies
Perhaps the pilots greatest concern about ying a singleengine aircraft at night is the possibility of a complete
engine failure and the subsequent emergency landing. This
is a legitimate concern, even though continuing ight into
adverse weather and poor pilot judgment account for most
serious accidents.
If the engine fails at night, several important procedures and
considerations to keep in mind are:

Maintain positive control of the aircraft and establish

the best glide conguration and airspeed. Turn the
aircraft toward an airport or away from congested
areas.

Check to determine the cause of the engine malfunction,

such as the position of fuel shutoff, magneto switch, or
primer. If possible, the cause of the malfunction should
be corrected immediately and the engine restarted.

Announce the emergency situation to Air Trafc

Control (ATC) or UNICOM. If already in radio
contact with a facility, do not change frequencies
unless instructed to change.

Consider an emergency landing area close to public

access if possible. This may facilitate rescue or help,
if needed.

Maintain orientation with the wind to avoid a

downwind landing.

Complete the before landing checklist, and check the

landing lights for operation at altitude and turn on in
sufcient time to illuminate the terrain or obstacles
along the ightpath. The landing should be completed
in the normal landing attitude at the slowest possible
airspeed. If the landing lights are unusable and outside
visual references are not available, the aircraft should
be held minimum controlled airspeed until the ground
is contacted.

After landing, turn off all switches and evacuate the

aircraft as quickly as possible.

Chapter Summary
Night ight requires additional training, a private pilot
certicate, and should be performed only when there is
adequate reference with the Earth, such as city lights or
a full moon. Night ight should never be performed over
open water.
Night illusions require reference to flight instruments.
WSC pilots can determine pitch control by feel but cannot
determine roll and heading by feel so instrumentation such
as a heading indicator, magnetic compass, or GPS is needed
for directional reference.

Figure 12-14. Roundout when tire marks are visible.

12-13

12-14

Chapter 13

Abnormal and
Emergency Procedures
Introduction
This chapter contains information on dealing with abnormal
and emergency situations that may occur in flight.
Aeronautical decision-making (ADM), a systematic approach
to determine the best course of action in response to a
given set of circumstances, should always be used rather
than making a quick decision without determining the best
outcome. Most emergencies can be prevented by making the
proper decisions. This may be the rst go/no-go decision of
whether to y, when to y, or where to y. All safe ights
start with proper preight planning.

13-1

Throughout this chapter, all abnormal and emergency

decisions should be based on ADM. Some situations allow
more time than others to evaluate the outcome. ADM
should be applied to any unplanned or unexpected situation
presented.

The choice of adding a BPS as an additional system for

emergencies is up to the pilot. This decision should be made
by evaluating the disadvantages of an additional system, its
advantages, and the situations in which the system would
be utilized.

In addition to ADM, the key to any emergency situation,

and/or preventing a abnormal situation from progressing
to a true emergency is a thorough familiarity with, and
adherence to, the procedures developed by the manufacturer
and contained in the Aircraft Flight Manual and/or Pilots
Operating Handbook (AFM/POH). The following guidelines
are generic and not meant to replace the manufacturers
recommended procedures. Rather, they are meant to enhance
the pilots general knowledge in the area of abnormal and
emergency operations. If any of the guidance in this chapter
conicts with the manufacturers recommended procedures
for a particular make and model weight-shift control (WSC)
aircraft, the manufacturers recommended procedures take
precedence.

Advantages of a BPS:

BPS can be used if there is a total loss of control of the

WSC. The term loss of control is key to when the
BPS should be deployed. Always y the aircraft rst,
but if the pilot cannot control or regain control of the
aircraft (loss of control), this is when the BPS should
be used. Loss of control might result from midair
collisions or wake tip vortices with other aircraft.
A loss of control could also result from structural
failure due to inadequate preight or lack of proper
maintenance.

BPS can be used if the engine quits and there are no

suitable landing areas. Although pilots try to have a
suitable landing area within gliding distance, there are
times when a parachute could be used with an engine
failure, such as over high trees.

Pilot incapacitation is a situation where the BPS could

be used. This could be a pilot-in-command (PIC)
illness, such as a heart attack, or an external factor,
such as a bird strike in the face temporally blinding
the pilot. For example, if the pilot is incapacitated by
a bird strike, the pilot could feel for the handle and
pull it. Other designs allow the pilot and passenger
to be able to reach and actuate the BPS, while other
designs have two separate handles for the pilot and a
passenger. Many passengers feel safer if they know
they can actuate the BPS if the pilot is unable to y
the aircraft.

Pilot disorientation with loss of control of the

aircraft is a situation where the BPS could be used.
In the unusual situation of severe vertigo or spatial
disorientation preventing the pilot from differentiating
up from down, such as severe turbulence, night ying,
or ying into bad weather, a BPS could be used.
Attempts should always be made to regain composure;
if attempts fail, then the BPS is an option.

Ballistic Parachute System (BPS)

The ballistic parachute system (BPS) provides an additional
safety margin to ying WSC aircraft. However, if utilized
when other alternatives would produce a better outcome or
if not deployed with the proper procedures, BPS system use
could create a worse situation than not using a BPS. The BPS
should be used only as a last alternative and only after other
options have been evaluated through ADM. [Figure 13-1]

Disadvantages of having BPS:

Figure 13-1. WSC aircraft coming down under a ballistic parachute

system.

13-2

It provides a false sense of security. A pilot might

believe that the BPS can save him or her from
hazardous situations, which could cause the pilot to
develop hazardous attitudes, exceed limitations, and
make bad decisions.

The pilot could deploy the parachute when it is not

needed. A BPS should be utilized only as a last
alternative to normal emergency procedures. It should
not be used when ADM produces a better alternative
for the situation at hand.

BPS systems installed on a WSC aircraft have greater

initial cost, maintenance, and weight.

A BPS can be deployed accidentally. This can happen

when the actuation handle is not properly placed, or
when deployed by occupants not following appropriate
procedures.

BPS systems may not re or could tangle during the

deployment. Like any system, it can fail or not be
operated properly, so there is no guarantee it will
re or deploy properly. However, if it is mounted,
maintained, and operated properly, the chances of a
successful deployment are good.

Before impact, put hands in front of face and keep

arms and legs in and tight to body.

After impact, exit aircraft immediately.

Emergency Landings
This section contains information on emergency landing
techniques in WSC aircraft. The guidelines that are presented
apply to the more adverse terrain conditions for which no
practical training is possible. The objective is to instill in the
pilot the knowledge that almost any terrain can be considered
suitable for a survivable crash landing if the pilot knows how
to slow and secure the WSC aircraft while using the WSC
structure for protection of the pilot and passenger.
Types of Emergency Landings
The different types of emergency landings are:

The BPS should not be used in abnormal or emergency

situations, such as engine failure when suitable landing areas
are within gliding distance. Other situations in which to avoid
using a BPS are during strong winds/convection/turbulence,
or if lost. Alternatives and greater detail is presented for these
situations where a BPS is not used later in this chapter .

Forced landingan immediate landing, on or off an

airport, necessitated by the inability to continue further
ight. A typical example is an aircraft forced down
by engine failure.

Procedures for Using a BPS

In an emergency situation where ADM is used and the
best outcome for the given situation is the use of a BPS,
the following general procedure for properly operating the
BPS is:

Precautionary landinga premeditated landing, on

or off an airport, when further ight is possible but
inadvisable. Examples of conditions that may call for
a precautionary landing include deteriorating weather,
being lost, fuel shortage, and gradually developing
engine trouble.

Ditchinga forced landing on water.

Select the proper location if still in control of the aircraft.

Consider wind drift and a descent rate of 900 to 1,800
feet per minute (fpm). A minimum 500 feet above
ground level (AGL) is recommended for complete
deployment that is low enough to provide accurate
targeting at intended area. (If below 500 feet AGL,
consider this a low deployment and skip this step.)

Shut off the engine (this is especially important for

pusher WSC).

Slow down and lift the wing on the side where the
chute will deploy (if a side deployment and above
500 feet AGL).

Pull the BPS deployment handle hard and as far as

it will go. This can be more than 12 inches in some
situations.

Hold the control bar firmly with bent arms until

parachute inates.

Steer the descending WSC aircraft toward best landing

spot, if possible (some installations that hang from the
top at the hang point center of gravity (CG) may allow
some directional control).

A precautionary landing is less hazardous than a forced

landing because the pilot has more time for terrain selection
and approach planning. In addition, the pilot can use power
to compensate for errors in judgment or technique. The
pilot should be aware that too many situations calling for a
precautionary landing are allowed to develop into immediate
forced landings when the pilot uses wishful thinking instead
of reason, especially when dealing with a self-inicted
predicament. Trapped by weather or facing fuel exhaustion,
the pilot who does not give any thought to the feasibility
of a precautionary landing accepts an extremely hazardous
alternative.
Psychological Hazards
There are several factors that may interfere with a pilots
ability to act promptly and properly when faced with an
emergency. These factors include reluctance to accept the
emergency situation, the desire to save the aircraft, and undue
concern about getting hurt.
A pilot who allows the mind to become paralyzed at the
thought that the aircraft will be on the ground in a very short
time, regardless of the pilots actions or hopes, is severely

13-3

handicapped. An unconscious desire to delay the dreaded

moment may lead to such errors as a delay in the selection
of the most suitable landing area within reach and indecision
in general. Desperate attempts to correct whatever went
wrong at the expense of aircraft control fall into the same
category.

structure between the occupants and the principal point of

impact on the aircraft has a direct bearing on the severity of
the transmitted crash forces and, therefore, on survivability.
Compared to an airplane, the WSC aircraft has less structure
to absorb the impact and is moving slower, but the same
principles apply.

The pilot who has been conditioned during training to

expect to nd a relatively safe landing area whenever the
ight instructor closes the throttle for a simulated forced
landing may ignore all basic rules of airmanship to avoid a
touchdown in terrain where aircraft damage is unavoidable.
Typical consequences are making a 180 turn back to the
runway when available altitude is insufcient, stretching the
glide without regard for minimum control speed in order to
reach a more appealing eld, or accepting an approach and
touchdown situation that leaves no margin for error. The
desire to save the aircraft, regardless of the risks involved,
may be inuenced by two other factors: the pilots nancial
stake in the aircraft and the certainty that an undamaged
aircraft implies no bodily harm. There are times, however,
when a pilot should be more interested in sacricing the
aircraft so that the occupants can safely walk away from it.

Avoiding forcible contact with the front tube, cowling,

dashboard, or outside structure is a matter of seat and body
security with the use of seatbelts. Unless the occupant
decelerates at the same rate as the surrounding structure, no
benet is realized from its relative intactness. The occupant
is brought to a stop violently in the form of a secondary
collision.

Fear is a vital part of the self-preservation mechanism.

However, when fear leads to panic, we invite that which we
want most to avoid. The survival records favor pilots who
maintain their composure and know how to apply the general
concepts and procedures that have been developed through
the years. The success of an emergency landing is as much
a matter of the mind as of skills.

Dispensable aircraft structure is not the only available energyabsorbing medium in an emergency situation. Vegetation,
trees, and even manmade structures may be used for this
purpose. Cultivated elds with dense crops, such as mature
corn and grain, are almost as effective in bringing an aircraft
to a stop with repairable damage as an emergency arresting
device on a runway. [Figure 13-2] Brush and small trees
provide considerable cushioning and braking effect without
destroying the aircraft. When dealing with natural and manmade obstacles with greater strength than the dispensable
aircraft structure, the pilot must plan the touchdown in such
a manner that only nonessential structure is used up in the
principal slowing down process.

Basic Safety Concepts

A pilot who is faced with an emergency landing in terrain
that makes extensive aircraft damage inevitable should
keep in mind that the avoidance of crash injuries is largely
a matter of:
1.

Keeping vital structure (ight deck where the pilot

and passenger are seated) relatively intact by using
dispensable structure, such as wings, landing gear, and
carriage bottom to absorb the violence of the stopping
process before it affects the occupants.

2.

Avoiding forward wing movement relative to the

carriage, allowing the mast to rotate into the ight deck
occupants, or the front tube to compress and break,
providing structure to impale/stab the occupants.

The advantage of sacrificing dispensable structure is

demonstrated daily on the highways. A head-on car impact
against a tree at 20 miles per hour (mph) is less hazardous for
a properly restrained driver than a similar impact against the
drivers door. Statistics indicate that the extent of crushable

13-4

Figure 13-2. Using vegetation to absorb energy.

It should be noted that examples presented here are not to

be practiced because these situations are hazardous and can

damage the WSC and injure occupants. These examples are
shown for informational purposes, in case similar situations
arise in the future.

40

The overall severity of a deceleration process is governed by

speed (groundspeed) and stopping distance. The most critical
of these is speed; doubling the groundspeed quadruples the
total destructive energy and vice versa. Even a small change
in groundspeed at touchdown, resulting from wind or pilot
technique, affects the outcome of a controlled crash. It is
important that the actual touchdown during an emergency
landing be made at the lowest possible controllable airspeed
using all available means.

30

Attitude and Sink Rate Control

The most critical and often the most inexcusable error that
can be made in the planning and execution of an emergency
landing, even in ideal terrain, is the loss of initiative over
the aircrafts attitude and sink rate at touchdown. When the
touchdown is made on at, open terrain, an excessive noselow pitch attitude brings the risk of sticking the nose in
the ground. Steep bank angles just before touchdown should
also be avoided, as they increase the stalling speed and the
likelihood of a wingtip strike.

Headwind

10.5 feet

Groundspeed
25 mph

20

Tailwind

Most pilots instinctivelyand correctlylook for the largest

available at and open eld for an emergency landing.
Actually, very little stopping distance is required if the speed
can be dissipated uniformly; that is, if the deceleration forces
can be spread evenly over the available distance. This concept
is designed into the arresting gear on aircraft carriers, and
provides a nearly constant stopping force from the moment
of hookup.
For example, assuming a uniform 2 G deceleration while
landing into a headwind with a 25 mph groundspeed, the
stopping distance is about 10.5 feet; in a downwind landing
at 50 mph groundspeed, the required stopping distance is
42 feetabout four times as great. [Figure 13-3] Although
these gures are based on an ideal deceleration process,
it is interesting to note what can be accomplished in an
effectively used short stopping distance. Additionally,
landing uphill reduces the stopping distance and landing
downhill increases the stopping distance. Understanding
the need for a rm but uniform deceleration process in very
poor terrain enables the pilot to select touchdown conditions
that spread the breakup of dispensable structure over a short
distance, thereby reducing the peak deceleration of the ight
deck area. A careful consideration must be made considering
wind, slope, and terrain.

42 feet

2 G deceleration

10

Groundspeed
50 mph

Figure 13-3. Stopping distance vs. groundspeed.

Since the aircrafts vertical component of velocity is

immediately reduced to zero upon ground contact, it must
be kept well under control. A at touchdown at a high sink
rate (well in excess of 500 feet per minute (fpm)) on a
hard surface can be injurious without destroying the ight
deck structure depending on the design of the airframe and
the shock absorbing system. On soft terrain, an excessive
sink rate may cause digging in of the nose wheel with the
wing and/or WSC aircraft rotating forward into the ground,
stopping with severe forward deceleration or tumbling with
higher speeds.

13-5

Terrain Selection
A pilots choice of emergency landing sites is governed by
the:

Route selected during preight planning and

Height above the ground when the emergency

occurs.

The only time the pilot has a very limited choice is during low
and slow ying or during takeoff if the landing approach is
always within gliding distance of the runway.
It should be understood that the amount of area for available
landing sites increases at a rapid rate with increased altitude.
[Figure 13-4] As an example, a WSC aircraft with a 5 to 1
glide ratio ying at 500 feet AGL has 500 feet multiplied
by ve feet horizontal (or 2,500 feet) radius on the ground
to select a suitable landing area. For example, use a
mile radius. The area of available landing spots is x r2,
approximately 0.8 square miles. At 1,000 feet AGL, this
area would be 3.1 square miles; at 2,000 feet AGL, this is
about 12.5 square miles; and at 5,000 AGL, this is almost
80 square miles.
Additionally, ying in a downwind direction provides more
area to be covered while ying upwind reduces the amount
of area that can be covered while looking for a suitable
landing area.

If beyond gliding distance of a suitable open area, the pilot

should judge the available terrain for its energy absorbing
capability. If the emergency starts at a considerable height
above the ground, the pilot should be more concerned about
rst selecting the desired general area than a specic spot.
Terrain appearances from altitude can be very misleading
and considerable altitude may be lost before the best spot can
be pinpointed. For this reason, the pilot should not hesitate
to discard the original plan for one that is clearly better.
However, as a general rule, the pilot should not change his
or her mind more than once.
Approach
When the pilot has time to maneuver, the planning of the
approach should be governed by three factors:
1.

Wind direction and velocity

2.

Dimensions and slope of the chosen eld

3.

Obstacles in the nal approach path and the eld

itself

These three factors are seldom compatible. When compromises

must be made, the pilot should aim for a wind/obstacle/terrain
combination that permits a nal approach with some margin
for error in judgment or technique. A pilot who overestimates
the gliding range may be tempted to stretch the glide

5,000' AGL

2,000' AGL
1,000' AGL
500' AGL
Ground

5,000 Feet AGL 80 Square Miles

Figure 13-4. Increased altitude provides increased landing options.

13-6

across obstacles in the approach path. For this reason, it is

sometimes better to plan the approach over an unobstructed
area regardless of wind direction. Experience shows that a
collision with obstacles at the end of a ground roll, or slide,
is much less hazardous than striking an obstacle at ying
speed before the touchdown point is reached.

If the trees are estimated to be shorter than 15 feet or a BPS is

not installed on the WSC aircraft, landing in the trees should
be performed as follows:

Keep the groundspeed low by heading into the

wind.

Make contact at minimum indicated airspeed, but not

below stall speed, and hang the wing in the tree
branches in a nose-high landing attitude. Involving
the underside of the fuselage and both wings in the
initial tree contact provides a more even and positive
cushioning effect. Hold the control bar with both hands
more than shoulder width apart and bend elbows to
lessen the impact of the control bar against the chest.
[Figure 13-5]

Terrain Types
Since an emergency landing on suitable terrain resembles
a situation with which the pilot should be familiar through
training, only the more unusual situation is discussed.

Conned Areas
The natural preference to set the aircraft down on the ground
should not lead to the selection of an open spot between trees
or obstacles where the ground cannot be reached. Once the
intended touchdown point is reached, and the remaining open
and unobstructed space is very limited, it may be better to
force the aircraft down on the ground than to delay touchdown
until it stalls (settles). An aircraft decelerates faster after it is
on the ground than while airborne.
A river or creek can be an inviting alternative in otherwise
rugged terrain. The pilot should ensure that the water or creek
bed can be reached without snagging the wings. The same
concept applies to road landings with one additional reason
for caution: manmade obstacles on either side of a road may
not be visible until the nal portion of the approach.
When planning the approach across a road, it should be
remembered that most highways and even rural dirt roads
are paralleled by power or telephone lines. Only a sharp
lookout for the supporting structures or poles may provide
timely warning.
If the only possible landing alternative is a small clearing and
it is not possible to land the WSC aircraft, the BPS should
be deployed, if equipped, as discussed earlier.

Figure 13-5. Using treetops to hang the wing during an

emergency landing.

Avoid direct contact of the fuselage with heavy tree

trunks.

Try to land in low, closely spaced trees with wide,

dense crowns (branches) close to the ground, which
are much better than tall trees with thin tops; the latter
allow too much free fall height. (A free fall from 75
feet results in an impact speed of about 40 knots or
about 4,000 fpm.)

Ideally, initial tree contact should be symmetrical;

that is, both wings should meet equal resistance in the
tree branches. This distribution of the load helps to

Trees
Although a tree landing is not an attractive prospect, the
following general guidelines help to make the experience
survivable.
For example, if the trees are taller than 15 feet and not dense
enough to assure the wing could be set on top of them, use the
BPS if so equipped. This provides two possible chances of
hanging up in the trees and a slower descent rate if the WSC
aircraft does not become lodged in the trees and continues a
descent to the ground.

13-7

maintain proper aircraft attitude. It may also preclude

the loss of one wing, which invariably leads to a more
rapid and less predictable descent to the ground.

If heavy tree trunk contact is unavoidable once the

aircraft is on the ground, it is best to involve both
wings simultaneously by directing the aircraft between
two properly spaced trees. However, do not attempt
this maneuver while still airborne.

Water Landings (Ditching)

Preight planning for any ight where a water landing is
possible should include personal otation devices for the
pilot and occupants. A hook knife should also be accessible
for the pilot and passenger. A beach or landing spot where
an emergency landing can be made on land, is preferred
to landing in water. If a water landing must be made,
the aircraft should be positioned close to land in shallow
water, if possible, preferably four to ve feet deep to use
as a cushion but still deep enough to stand in with the head
above water.
With any altitude above the water, preparations should be
made to get rid of any items that would make it more difcult
to exit the WSC aircraft and swim once it enters the water.
This would include removing boots for swimming, discarding
any camera lanyards, headphones, or other unnecessary
items that could hinder the exit from the WSC aircraft once
underwater.
There are not many actual accounts of WSC aircraft ditching
in water, but all accounts at stalling above the water or ying
it in at minimum controlled airspeed stops the WSC aircraft
abruptly and puts the occupants under water immediately.
Depending on the speed, the WSC could tumble over the
water before stopping. Another account of a BPS deployment
provided a successful entry into the water. In any event,
the pilot and passenger would most likely be under water
immediately and disorientated. There are two alternate
techniques that have been successfully used for ditching in
the water:

Flying to the water and stalling just above the

surface

Using the BPS

Stalling Just Above the Waters Surface

With a stronger wind, ying to the water and stalling just
above the surface is a viable alternative to landing in the
water. It has been done a number of times successfully. The
WSC aircraft should be own directly into the wind to slow
down the groundspeed as much as practical. Once the wheels
are close to the water surface just above minimum controlled

13-8

airspeed, abruptly push the control bar out to enter the water
at the slowest speed possible. Take a deep breath and hold it
before hitting the water.

Using the BPS

An alternate water landing technique is to use the BPS. This
should not be used in calm winds because the parachute
would come down over the WSC aircraft and the lines could
entangle the occupants during the escape. A slight breeze or
greater wind (some ripples on the water) is needed for this
technique so the parachute does not come down directly
onto the WSC aircraft. Use the BPS deployment technique
discussed earlier. Take a deep breath and hold it before
hitting the water.

Once Under Water in the WSC Aircraft

Once in the water, immediately release the seat belt, free
yourself and passenger of any restrictions, and swim to the
surface. If disoriented, swim toward light or follow bubbles
upward to the surface. The WSC will be sinking, so escape
must be made quickly. The control bar must be pushed
forward at all costs to release the pilot to exit the aircraft
and swim to the surface. The forces of the water could push
the control bar back and pin the front seat/pilot into the seat.
If the landing is in shallow water, the pressure pinning the
pilot into the seat may stop when the WSC aircraft sinks to
the bottom.
Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
For any ight away from the airport, basic supplies should be
carried in case there is engine failure. At a minimum, supplies
should include a mobile phone/radio for retrieval, clothes
appropriate for the environment, ropes to tie down the WSC
aircraft, cash/valid credit cards, and food/water.
In the case of ying cross-country or over remote areas,
emergency equipment should be carried for a possible
extended period of being stranded. In addition to the basics
listed above, suplies for the appropriate time in the elements
should be carried. Survival gear for protection from the
elements should include clothing for hot and cold climates,
as applicable. Without proper clothing, someone can die
within hours from hypothermia or heat exhaustion. Water
is also very important for survival. Food is important, but a
person can survive over a week without it. Additional items
to include are a knife, signal mirror, extra portable radio and
batteries, emergency smoke/ares, and a large space blanket
doubling as tarp.
Other items specic to unique terrain and climate zone should
also be considered. For mountain terrain, a saw, shovel,
water purier, and 100-foot rope would be appropriate. For

large bodies of water, otation devices, extra water, and a

water purier would be added to the basic survival gear. If
in desert conditions, bring a lot of water and hats for shade.
In situations of extreme temperature changes, add both sun
shading and layered clothing to the gear as appropriate.

5 Turn
22

Engine Failure After Takeoff

As discussed earlier in Chapter 7, Takeoff and Departure
Climbs, proper takeoff technique provides lower pitch
angles during the initial climb to provide the slowest possible
descent rate for an engine failure after takeoff. The pitch
angle and altitude available for engine failure at takeoff are
the controlling factors in the successful accomplishment of an
emergency landing. If an actual engine failure should occur
immediately after takeoff and before a safe maneuvering
altitude is attained, it is usually inadvisable to attempt to turn
back to the takeoff eld. Instead, it is safer to establish the
proper glide attitude immediately, and select a eld directly
ahead or slightly to either side of the takeoff path.

C
A

The decision to continue straight ahead is often difcult to

make unless the problems involved in attempting to turn back
are seriously considered. First, the takeoff was probably made
into the wind. To return to the takeoff eld, a downwind turn
must be made. This increases the groundspeed and rushes
the pilot even more in the performance of procedures and
in planning the landing approach. Second, the aircraft loses
considerable altitude during the turn and might still be in a
bank when the ground is contacted, resulting in cartwheeling
(a catastrophe for the occupants, as well as the aircraft). After
turning downwind, the apparent increase in groundspeed
could mislead the pilot into a premature attempt to slow
the aircraft to a stall. Finally, it is more than one 180 turn.
For example, it is rst a 225 turn in one direction, then
another 45 turn in the other direction, totaling 310 of turn.
[Figure 13-6]

45
Tu
rn

On the other hand, continuing straight ahead or making a

slight turn allows the pilot more time to establish a safe
landing attitude. The landing can be made as slowly as
desired, but more importantly, the aircraft can be landed
while under control.
At airports where the runways are much longer than needed,
there is typically ample runway to make a straight ahead
landing. If a tight pattern is being used and the crosswind leg
is started at the end of the runway, turning back the additional
90 to the runway could be the best option, depending on the
suitability of landing areas straight ahead.

Figure 13-6. Amount of turn required to land back on the takeoff

runway.

Depending on the specific design of the WSC aircraft

considering weight, wing, and carriage, this maneuver can

13-9

be performed with no reaction time and as low as 250 to

500 feet AGL. However, the pilot should determine the
minimum altitude that such a maneuver would require of a
particular aircraft. Experimentation at a much higher, safe
altitude, 700 feet AGL as an example, should give the pilot
an approximation of height lost in a descending 225 and
45 turn at idle power. Starting high above the ground at
low bank angles and monitoring the altitude loss while doing
the required turns to line back up on the runway provides a
good reference. Finding the best bank angle to perform the
required turns for this maneuver with minimum altitude loss
is key to optimizing this maneuver and developing a habit if
this maneuver is needed in a real emergency.
By adding a safety factor of about 30 percent to account for
reaction time and no thrust from the propeller, the pilot should
arrive at a practical decision height. The ability to make these
turns does not necessarily mean that the departure runway can
be reached in a power-off glide; this depends on the wind,
the distance traveled during the climb, the height reached,
and the glide distance of the aircraft without power.
This is a highly advanced maneuver with turns close to
the ground. This should be practiced well into the training
program with the instructor. For example, consider an aircraft
which has taken off and climbed to an altitude of 350 feet
AGL when the engine fails. After a typical 4-second reaction
time, the pilot pulls down the nose, maintains control of the
aircraft, and elects to turn back to the runway, losing 50 feet.
[Figure 13-6, A to B] The pilot performs the 225 turn and
loses 300 feet. [Figure 13-6, B to C] The pilot must glide back
to the runway, losing another 50 feet. [Figure 13-6, C to D]
The pilot must turn another 45 to head the aircraft toward
the runway, losing another 50 feet. [Figure 13-6, D to E] By
this time the total change in direction is 310, the aircraft
will have descended 450 feet, placing it 100 feet below the
runway.

Emergency Descents
An emergency descent is a maneuver for descending as
rapidly as possible to a lower altitude or to the ground for an
emergency landing. The need for this maneuver may result
from an uncontrollable re, avoidance of other aircraft,
weather, or any other situation demanding an immediate
and rapid descent. The objective is to descend the aircraft
as quickly as possible within the structural limitations of
the aircraft. Simulated emergency descents should be made
in a turn to check for other air trafc below and to look
around for a possible emergency landing area. A radio call
announcing descent intentions may be appropriate to alert
other aircraft in the area. When initiating the descent, a bank
angle of approximately 45 to 60 should be established to
maintain positive load factors (G forces) on the aircraft.
13-10

Generally, the steeper the bank angle is, the quicker the
descent is. But caution should be exercised with steep bank
angles for extended periods because the high G forces and
rotation can cause disorientation or motion sickness, which
might make matters worse. The manufacturers bank and
speed limitations should not be exceeded.
Emergency descent training should be performed as
recommended by the manufacturer, including the conguration
and airspeeds. The power should be reduced to idle. The
pilot should never allow the aircrafts airspeed to surpass
the never-exceed speed (VNE) or go above the maximum
maneuvering (VA) speed, as applicable. In the case of an
engine re, a high airspeed descent could extinguish the
re. The descent should be made at the maximum allowable
bank angle and airspeed consistent with the procedure used.
This provides increased loads and drag and therefore the
loss of altitude as quickly as possible. The recovery from
an emergency descent should be initiated at an altitude high
enough to ensure a safe recovery back to level ight or a
precautionary landing.
When the descent procedure is established and stabilized
during training and practice, the descent should be terminated.
For longer descents, alternating turn directions should be
used so the pilot does not become disorientated. Prolonged
practice of emergency descents should be avoided to prevent
excessive cooling of the engine cylinders. [Figure 13-7]

Inight Fire
A re in ight demands immediate and decisive action.
The pilot must be familiar with the procedures to meet this
emergency as contained in the AFM/POH for the particular
aircraft. For the purposes of this handbook, inight res
are classied as: engine res and electrical res. If a re
extinguisher is installed on the WSC aircraft, the passenger
should be briefed on its use and the pin should be connected
to the extinguisher by a lanyard so it cannot be dropped into
the propeller, creating a worse situation.
Engine Fire
An inight engine re is usually caused by a failure that
allows a ammable substance such as fuel, oil, or hydraulic
uid to come in contact with a hot surface. This may be
caused by a mechanical failure of the engine itself, an enginedriven accessory, a defective induction or exhaust system, or
a broken line. Engine res may also result from maintenance
errors, such as improperly installed/fastened lines and/or
ttings, resulting in leaks.
Engine fires can be indicated by smoke and/or flames
coming from the engine area. They can also be indicated by
discoloration, bubbling, and/or melting of the engine cowling

Right Hand Turn Descent

Left Hand Turn Descent

Intended Landing Location

Figure 13-7. Emergency descent showing alternate right and left hand steep descending turns.

13-11

skin in cases where ames and/or smoke are not visible to

the pilot. By the time a pilot becomes aware of an inight
engine re, it usually is well developed. Unless the aircraft
manufacturer directs otherwise in the AFM/POH, the rst
step after discovering a re is to shut off the fuel supply to
the engine (if so equipped). The ignition switch should be
left on in order to use up the fuel that remains in the fuel
lines and components between the fuel selector/shutoff valve
and the engine (if equipped with an electric fuel pump). This
procedure may starve the re of fuel and cause the re to die
naturally. If the ames are snuffed out, no attempt should be
made to restart the engine.
If the engine re is oil-fed, the smoke is thick and black,
as opposed to a fuel-fed re which produces bright ames
with less smoke.
Some light aircraft emergency checklists direct the pilot
to shut off the electrical master switch. However, the pilot
should consider that unless the re is electrical in nature,
or a crash landing is imminent, deactivating the electrical
system prevents the use of radios for transmitting distress
messages and also causes air trafc control (ATC) to lose
transponder returns.
The pilot must be familiar with the aircrafts emergency
descent procedures and remember that:

An engine re on a WSC aircraft means the ames

are going to the rear of the aircraft where minimum
components are exposed. If the BPS is used, it would
change the direction of the ames, possibly setting the
wing and/or fuselage on re. The ames could also
burn the parachute line, creating worse problems.

The aircraft may be structurally damaged to the point

that its controllability could be lost at any moment.

The aircraft may still be on re and susceptible to

explosion.

The aircraft is expendablethe only thing that matters

is the safety of those on board.

Electrical Fires
The initial indication of an electrical re is usually a slight
amount of smoke and the distinct odor of burning insulation,
which may not be noticeable in a WSC open ight deck.
Once an electrical re is detected, the pilot should attempt
to identify the faulty circuit by checking circuit breakers,
instruments, avionics, and lights. If the faulty circuit cannot
be readily detected and isolated, and ight conditions permit,
the battery master switch should be turned off to remove the

13-12

possible source of the re. However, any materials that have

been ignited may continue to burn.
If electrical power is absolutely essential for the ight,
an attempt may be made to identify and isolate the faulty
circuit by:
1.

Turning the electrical master switch off.

2.

Turning all individual electrical switches off.

3.

Turning the master switch back on.

4.

Selecting electrical switches that were on before the

re indication one at a time, permitting a short time
lapse after each switch is turned on to check for signs
of odor, smoke, or sparks.

This procedure, however, has the effect of recreating the

original problem. The most prudent course of action is to
land as soon as possible.
The electrical re could expand into a larger re in the
carriage. A re in the cabin presents the pilot with two
immediate demands: attacking the re and getting the aircraft
safely on the ground as quickly as possible.

System Malfunctions
Electrical System
The loss of electrical power can deprive the pilot of
communications and navigation systems, but for day/VFR
conditions this is not a life threatening situation because most
engines ignition systems are on a separate electrical system
and not dependent on the battery for keeping the engine
running. However, losing communications does present some
challenges especially if operating at a controlled tower airport
in which procedures in the Airmans Information Manual
(AIM) would be followed.
Pitot-Static System
The source of the pressure for operating the airspeed indicator,
the vertical speed indicator, and the altimeter is the pitot-static
system. Most WSC aircraft have pressure for the airspeed
indicator. If this becomes plugged, the airspeed indicator may
not read properly. If it is suspected that the airspeed indicator
is not reading properly, use the feel of the aircraft and the
trim position to determine speed. It is perfectly safe to y a
WSC aircraft without an airspeed indicator if the pilot has
developed a feel of the aircraft since the trim position speed
is known and all other speeds can be determined based on the
feel of the air and the pressure on the control bar.

Altitude and vertical speed utilize static pressure. Because

there is typically no static line connecting these, they operate
independently. Therefore, if one fails or becomes plugged, the
other can act as a reference. For example, if the altimeter fails
for any reason, the vertical speed indicator would provide the
pilot with information on whether the aircraft was climbing,
level, or descending. The global positioning system (GPS)
(if equipped) could also provide altitude readings. If the
vertical speed indicator failed, the altimeter could provide
information on whether the aircraft was climbing, level, or
descending by looking at the altitude reading over time.
Landing Gear Malfunction
If there is any landing gear malfunction before or during
takeoff, the ight or takeoff should be aborted and the
malfunction fixed before attempting another takeoff.
However, if a malfunction takes place during or after takeoff
in which the landing gear is not completely functional for
landing, the situation should be evaluated using aeronautical
decision-making (ADM) to make the best choice based on
the outcome of the situation.
If a tire falls off, a known at of the tire is evident, or a
landing gear strut has shaken loose or become damaged,
precautionary measures must be taken to minimize the results
from landing with a defective landing gear.
Fly to a smooth runway where the WSC aircraft can skid
and not stop abruptly and tumble. Inform the local ATC,
UNICOM, or multicom frequency that there is a MAYDAY
in order to obtain immediate help for a crash landing.
There is no hurry to land, so use ADM to survey the situation
and make the best decision on where and how to land. Find
a location that has medical support, a smooth runway that
minimizes abrupt stops/tumbling, and land into the wind for
the best outcome. Attempt to make a normal approach into
the wind with the lowest possible speed to touchdown.
Inadvertant Propeller Strike
A propeller strike in a pusher WSC aircraft is more dangerous
than in any other aircraft. If an object or the propeller is ung
up into the wing trailing edge, a structural failure could occur.
This situation should not be underestimated or ignored.
Procedures should be implemented and followed to avoid
propeller strikes from articles ying out of the ight deck.
Passengers sitting in the back are the greatest risk to propeller
strikes. A comprehensive preight brief with proper ight

deck management procedures should reveal any open pockets

or items that could dislodge and y into the propeller. The
passenger in the back should be instructed not to take off
gloves, helmet, or glasses, or pull out a camera/mobile phone
without a lanyard. However, the passenger in the rear seat
cannot be monitored completely; it is possible that items
could y out of the ight deck and go through the propeller,
presenting a serious situation.
If a bird strike occurs or anything else hits the propeller,
reduce throttle immediately and evaluate the situation. The
severity of the vibration is the key element to determining
what to do. If the vibration is severe, shut off the engine and
make an emergency landing. Minor vibration can be tolerated,
but the risk of ying with a damaged propeller, which could
dislodge and hit the sail, should be minimized. It is best to
shut down the engine and perform an emergency landing.
Stuck or Runaway Throttle
Throttles can stick above idle or unexpectedly increase, which
is called a runaway throttle. If on the ground, a runaway
throttle can be disastrous if not anticipated and mitigated. A
pilot (and instructor, if teaching) should always have access
to the ignition system in order to shut it off immediately in the
event of a throttle stuck above idle or a runaway throttle. A
runaway throttle can be caused by the pilot or student pushing
on the throttle pedal during taxi or startup, thinking it is the
right brake, as in an airplane. Setting the cruise throttle to
full open rather than full closed during startup also causes a
runaway throttle. On startup, the checklists must be followed,
including cruise throttle closed, foot off of foot throttle, brake
on, propeller cleared, etc. The PIC must have control of the
ignition to shut it off immediately during startup and taxi.
A runaway or stuck throttle during ight can be handled by
climbing or ying to a suitable location where the engine can
be shut off and a safe engine-off landing can be made.
Abnormal Engine Instrument Indications
The AFM/POH for the specic aircraft contains information
that should be followed in the event of any abnormal
engine instrument indications. The table in Figure 13-8
offers generic information on some of the more commonly
experienced inight abnormal engine instrument indications,
their possible causes, and corrective actions. It is important to
know that when an engine temperature probe fails, it usually
reads an unusually low value, zero, or does not register. This
should be taken into account when evaluating the situation
with engine instruments.

13-13

MALFUNCTION

PROBABLE CAUSE

CORRECTIVE ACTION

Slow loss of RPM during cruise ight

Carburetor or induction icing or air lter

clogging

Apply carburetor heat. If dirty lter is

suspected, divert to closest airport.

High cylinder head temperature (CHT)

Insufcient airspeed for cooling (for ram air

cooling systems)

Reduce throttle. Increase airspeed.

Improper mixture adjustment

Reduce throttle. Land as soon as possible.

Detonation or preignition

Reduce power, increase cooling airow.

Land as soon as practical.

Cooling system failure

Reduce throttle and land as soon as

practical. Shut off engine if readings climb
well above manufacturers limits to avoid
engine damage.

For two-stroke engines

Very high cylinder head temperatures

(CHT) and climbing

Low cylinder head temperature (CHT)

Excessively rich mixture

Reduce altitude.

Extended glides without clearing engine

Clear engine long enough to keep

temperatures at minimum range.

Lean mixture from improper jetting (can

result from jetting set for higher altitude
airport and ying to lower altitude airport)

Reduce throttle. Land as soon as practical.

Lean mixture from additional air leaking

into induction system

Reduce throttle. Land as soon as possible.

Low exhaust gas temperature (EGT)

Rich mixture from improper jetting

Land as soon as practical.

Ammeter indicating discharge

Magneto/generator failure

Shed unnecessary electrical load. Land as

soon as practicable.

Rough running engine

Improper mixture

Land as soon as practical.

Carburetors out of adjustment or out of

synchronization (more evident at lower
rpm)

Idle at higher rpm. Land as soon as

practical.

Detonation or preignition

Reduce power. Land as soon as practical.

Induction air leak

Reduce power. Land as soon as practical.

Plugged fuel nozzle (for fuel injection)

Reduce power. Land as soon as practical.

High exhaust gas temperature (EGT)

For four-stroke engines

High oil temperature

Low oil temperature

High oil pressure

Low oil pressure

Fluctuating oil pressure

Oil congealed in cooler

Reduce power. Land. Preheat engine.

Inadequate engine cooling

Reduce power. Increase airspeed.

Detonation or preignition

Observe cylinder head temperatures for

high reading. Descend to enrich mixture.

Forthcoming internal engine failure

Land as soon as possible.

Defective thermostatic oil cooler control

Land as soon as possible.

Engine not warmed up to operating

temperature

Warm engine in prescribed manner.

Cold oil

Warm engine in prescribed manner.

Possible internal plugging

Reduce power. Land as soon as possible.

Broken pressure relief valve

Land as soon as possible.

Insufcient oil

Land as soon as possible.

Burned out bearings

Land as soon as possible.

Low oil supply, loose oil lines, defective

pressure relief valve

Land as soon as possible.

Figure 13-8. Common inflight abnormal engine instrument indications, causes, and corrective inflight actions.

13-14

Weather Related Emergencies

High Winds and Strong Turbulence
Preight planning for intended airports and winds aloft over
the planned route and possible diversions can provide the
pilot a means of anticipating the winds that would exceed
aircraft or pilot capabilities. However, unanticipated high
winds can create an emergency for any aircraft. High
winds during cruise ight are not a danger unless they
create extreme/severe turbulence, or the pilot is ying with
questionable fuel reserves into a headwind that is stronger
than expected.

High Winds and Turbulence During Cruise Flight

If the winds at cruise altitude provide an unanticipated
slower groundspeed than planned, and the fuel reserves are
questionable, the ight should be diverted to an alternate
airport so there is no chance of running out of fuel for the
intended ight. Stronger headwinds and crosswinds slow the
groundspeed; tailwinds increase the groundspeed, resulting
in the ability to reach airports that are farther away. The GPS
is an accurate tool for measuring an aircrafts groundspeed
during ight.
In high winds, it is generally advisable to cruise with enough
ground clearance to assure that turbulence or sinking air does
not reduce altitude to an unsafe level. For example, maintain
at least 1,000 feet AGL when ying in strong winds to be far
enough away from the ground to account for any turbulence,
wind shear, or downdrafts.
If a pilot is flying and sees high wind or a gust front
approaching with blowing dust or other indicators, a decision
must be made to land and secure the WSC aircraft before
the gust front hits, or turn and y away from the area as fast
as possible. Never y into a gust front. If it looks like strong
winds, it probably is and avoiding it is wise.
Strong turbulence can be created from high winds, wind
shear, rising/falling unstable air, or any combination of
these. As described in the basic ight maneuvers chapter,
the pilot should keep the wings and pitch angle within the
manufacturers limitations through power and control bar
ying techniques. Generally, if the turbulence continues to
increase, y back to where the turbulence was less severe
instead of continuing where the turbulence might become
more severe. However, if the pitch becomes too high and
a whip stall occurs, as the nose drops into a dive, the pilot
should push the control bar full forward and apply full
power for the best chance of recovering to normal ight and
not progressing into a tumble. The best whip stall/tumble
avoidance is to avoid severe turbulence and keeping the nose
within the manufacturers limitations.

High Winds and Turbulence During Takeoffs and

Landings
Takeoffs in high winds can simply be avoided by deciding not
to y. However, if a pilot takes off and encounters high winds
or turbulence, high energy should be maintained throughout
the climb and departure.
If it is determined that the winds are too high for landing
at the intended location, divert to another location or
wait until the strong winds subside to land. This is where
the Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS),
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), or radio
contact with other airports can assist the pilot in nding an
airport with wind conditions within the pilots capabilities
and aircraft limitations.
If the headwind is within the pilots capabilities and aircraft
limitations but the crosswinds are above any limitations,
the pilot may need to land on a taxiway or sideways on a
runway that is wide enough, thus reducing the crosswind
component to acceptable levels. Strong winds produce strong
mechanical turbulence on the lee side of objects which should
be considered and avoided during any takeoff or landing in
strong winds.

High Winds During Taxi

For strong head winds during taxi, the nose must be lowered
to keep the WSC aircraft on the ground. Raising the nose
could allow the WSC aircraft to lift off. In any case, the nose
should be lowered completely to keep the WSC aircraft on
the ground. In strong tail winds, the nose must be raised so
that the wind does not get underneath the wing and lift it up
from the back and possibly tumble it forward. If the wing
starts to lift from the back, release the brake and push the
control bar forward to keep the wing from lifting and possibly
tumbling forward.
Strong crosswinds during taxi must be managed by keeping
the wing level or slightly down into the wind so the wind does
not catch it, lift up, and topple the WSC aircraft to the side,
causing signicant damage. If the wind pushes down on the
wing, it could pin it to the ground which is the better option.
If the wing does become pinned from the wind, the pilot can
give some throttle and steer into the wind, rotating around
the tip and freeing the wing from the pinned state. This may
cause damage to the tip from scraping on the ground. If the
windward side gets too high and wind gets under the wing
lifting it from the side, all efforts should be made to hold it
down while the front wheel is turned downwind and the nose
raised to turn with the wind and avoid tumbling sideways.

13-15

Taxiing to a location that is on the leeward side of a structure

into the wind shadow provides the best option for exiting the
WSC aircraft in high winds. When available, seek assistance
to exit and/or secure the WSC. If no wind shadow is available,
the pilot can turn the WSC aircraft into crosswind and pin
the wing to exit.
Inadvertent Flight into Instrument Meteorological
Conditions (IMC)
Proper ight planning using available weather resources
should allow a pilot to avoid ying when the probability
of low visibility is high. It is expected that WSC pilots
exercise good judgment and not attempt to y when the
visibility is questionable. However, this section is included
as background for this emergency procedure for inadvertent
ight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), ight
without visual reference to the horizon.
Although it is possible to get an attitude indicator installed
in a WSC aircraft, there are no training requirements for
ying by instruments for sport or private pilot WSC ratings.
Samples of these instruments are shown in Figures 13-9
and 13-10.
Sport pilots are not allowed to y unless there is visual
reference to the surface and three miles visibility. This is

different for private pilots for whom there is not a requirement

for visual reference to the ground and the minimum ight
visibility is only one statute mile (SM).
Accident statistics show that the average airplane pilot who
has not been trained in attitude instrument ying, or one
whose instrument skills have eroded, will lose control of
the aircraft in about 10 minutes once forced to rely solely
on instrument reference. WSC pilots without any instrument
training attempting to use instruments in IMC conditions
would lose control much sooner. No WSC pilot should
attempt ight into IMC conditions.
The purpose of this section is to provide guidance on practical
emergency measures to maintain aircraft control in the event
a VFR pilot encounters IMC conditions. The main goal is
not instrument ying; it is to help the VFR pilot keep the
aircraft under adequate control until suitable visual references
are regained.
The rst steps necessary for surviving an encounter with
IMC by a VFR pilot are:

Recognition and acceptance of the gravity of the

situation and the need for immediate remedial
action.

Figure 13-9. Optional analog gauges for instrument flying: attitude indicator (top middle) and direction indicator (lower left) not typically

installed on WSC aircraft.

13-16

Figure 13-10. Digital panel with attitude indicator and direction indicator used on some WSC aircraft.

Maintaining control of the aircraft.

Maintaining Aircraft Control

Obtaining the appropriate assistance in getting the

aircraft out of IMC conditions.

Once the pilot recognizes and accepts the situation, he or she

must understand that the only way to control the aircraft safely
is by using and trusting the ight instruments. Attempts to
control the aircraft partially by reference to ight instruments
while searching outside the ight deck for visual conrmation
of the information provided by those instruments results in
inadequate aircraft control. This may be followed by spatial
disorientation and complete loss of control.

Recognition
A VFR pilot is in IMC conditions anytime he or she is unable
to maintain aircraft attitude control by visual reference to
the natural horizon, regardless of the circumstances or the
prevailing weather conditions. Additionally, the VFR pilot
is in IMC any time he or she is inadvertently or intentionally
and for an indeterminate period of time unable to navigate
or establish geographical position by visual reference to
landmarks on the surface. These situations must be accepted
by the pilot involved as a genuine emergency requiring
immediate action.
As discussed earlier, when entering conditions in which
visibility is decreasing or IMC, the pilot should turn around,
climb, or descend immediately and return to where ground
visibility is known. Do not continue assuming that conditions
will clear and visibility will be regained.

The most important point to be stressed is that the pilot must

not panic. Recognize the situation and take immediate action.
The task at hand may seem overwhelming, and the situation
may be compounded by extreme apprehension. The pilot
must make a conscious effort to relax and understand that the
only concern at this point is to y toward known visibility.
If climbing into a cloud, reduce throttle and descend. If
descending into a cloud, increase throttle and climb out of the
cloud. If visibility is suddenly lost (e.g. ying into a cloud),
turn 180 and y toward known visibility.

13-17

The pilot should remember that a person cannot feel control

pressures with a tight grip on the controls. Relaxing and
learning to control with the eyes and the brain instead of
muscles usually takes considerable conscious effort.
The pilot must believe that the ight instruments show the
aircrafts pitch attitude and direction regardless of what the
natural senses tell. The vestibular sense (motion sensing by
the inner ear) can confuse the pilot. Because of inertia, the
sensory areas of the inner ear cannot detect slight changes
in aircraft attitude nor can they accurately sense attitude
changes which occur at a uniform rate over a period of time.
On the other hand, false sensations are often generated,
leading the pilot to believe the pitch attitude or direction
attitude of the aircraft has changed when, in fact, it has not.
These false sensations result in the pilot experiencing spatial
disorientation.

Attitude Control
Attitude is defined as The position of an aircraft as
determined by the relationship of its axes and a reference,
usually the earths horizon. For WSC, the pitch and the roll
are the relevant attitudes.
Most aircraft are generally, by design, inherently stable
platforms and, except in turbulent air, maintain approximately
straight-and-level ight if properly trimmed and left alone.
They are designed to maintain a state of equilibrium in
pitch, roll, and yaw. The pilot must be aware, however, that
a change about one axis affects the other axes. The WSC
aircraft is stable in the yaw and pitch axes, but less stable in
the roll axis. The yaw and pitch axes of the WSC are easy
to control, but the roll axis is the challenge for WSC aircraft
control in IMC. The key to emergency aircraft attitude and
directional control, therefore, is to:

Fly at the normal trim speed. To climb, increase

throttle; to descend, decrease throttle. To y level,
y at the throttle setting that provides level ight.
The vertical speed indicator or altimeter provides
information regarding pitch attitude.

Resist the tendency to overcontrol the aircraft. Fly

with ngertip control. No attitude changes should be
made unless the ight instruments indicate a denite
need for a change.

Make all attitude changes smooth and small, yet with

positive pressure.

The primary instrument for roll control is the attitude

indicator if so equipped. [Figures 13-9 and 13-10]

13-18

Figure 13-11. Analog magnetic compass.

For aircraft not equipped with an attitude indicator, a

magnetic compass [Figure 13-11] or a GPS [Figure 13-12]
are the instruments that can be used for roll control. The
compass stays stationary and the WSC aircraft rotates around
the compass dial. A pilot is ying wings level if the compass
heading is not changing. If the compass is changing direction,
the aircraft is banked into a turn. Similarly, the GPS provides
ground track. If ying wings level, the GPS ground track is
steady. If the GPS ground track is changing, the aircraft is
in a bank and turning.

Turns
Turns are perhaps the most potentially dangerous maneuver
for the untrained instrument pilot for two reasons:

The normal tendency of the pilot to overcontrol,

leading to steep banks.

The inability of the pilot to cope with the instability

resulting from the turn.

As an example, a 180 turn would be the most likely turn to

exit a cloud and return to where there is visibility with the
surface. The direction the turn started should be noted in order
to determine the direction needed to exit the IMC conditions.
For example, if heading North when ying into the cloud,
turn 180 and head South to exit the cloud.

When a turn must be made, the pilot should anticipate and

cope with the relative instability of the roll axis. The smallest
practical bank angle should be usedin any case no more
than 10 bank angle. [Figure 13-13] A shallow bank takes
very little vertical lift from the wings, resulting in little if
any deviation in altitude, and the WSC aircraft can continue
to be own at trim speed. It may be helpful to turn 90 and
then reduce the bank and return to level ight. This process
may relieve the progressive overbanking that often results
from prolonged turns. Repeat the process twice until heading
in the opposite direction of entry in order to exit. Once on
the proper heading to exit the IMC conditions, maintain this
heading until obtaining visual reference with the surface.
Turns with a magnetic compass or a GPS would be similar
but the only indication of bank angle is the rate at which the
compass or GPS is rotating. The rotation should be slow and
steady and not increase in speed. Any increase in compass
or GPS rotation should be slowed by decreasing the bank
back to level ight to avoid increasing the bank. Practicing
gentle turns and observing the rotational speed of the compass
and GPS under VFR conditions will help a pilot recognize
an acceptable rotational speed ying at trim speed should
need ever arise.
Figure 13-12. Global positioning system (GPS).

30

90
80

40

29.8
29.9
30.0

50

70
60

Figure 13-13. Level turn.

13-19

Chapter Summary
Most emergency situations can be avoided through proper
maintenance and preight planning. The following summarizes
emergency procedures when they are warranted.

Emergency landings require careful thought to

evaluate wind and terrain for a successful outcome.

Emergency descents may be required because of

weather, avoiding other aircraft, or aircraft re.

Corrective action for system malfunction depends on

the specic aircraft procedures.

High winds and turbulence are less of a threat when

the WSC aircraft is a signicant distance above the
ground. It is takeoff and especially landing where high
winds and turbulence become the biggest problem. Do
not takeoff, y, or land when the winds and turbulence
exceed aircraft limitations or pilot capabilities.

If the VFR pilot ies into IMC conditions, the pilot

should return to an area of known VFR conditions.

The BPS should be used as a last option and only if

total loss of control with no chance of recovery, pilot
incapacitation, or engine failure over hostile terrain.

13-20

Glossary
100-hour inspection. An inspection required by 14 CFR
section 91.409 for FAA-certificated aircraft that are operated
for hire, or are used for flight instruction for hire. A 100hour inspection is similar in content to an annual inspection,
but it can be conducted by an aircraft mechanic who holds
an Airframe and Powerplant rating, but does not have an
Inspection Authorization. A list of the items that must be
included in an annual or 100-hour inspection is included in
14 CFR part 43, Appendix D.

AD. See Airworthiness Directive.

14 CFR. See Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Aerodynamics. The science of the action of air on an object,

and with the motion of air on other gases. Aerodynamics
deals with the production of lift by the aircraft, the relative
wind, and the atmosphere.

14 CFR Part 1. Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR,

pertaining to definitions and abbreviations of terms.
14 CFR Part 61. Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR,
pertaining to the issuance of pilot and instructor certificates
and ratings.
14 CFR Part 67. Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR,
pertaining to medical standards and certification for pilots.
14 CFR Part 91. Federal Aviation Regulation from 14 CFR,
pertaining to general operating and flight rules.

ADM. See aeronautical decision-making.

Adverse yaw. A flight condition at the beginning of a turn in
which the nose of the aircraft starts to move in the direction
opposite the direction the turn is being made, caused by
the induced drag produced by the downward-deflected tip
holding back the wing as it begins to rise.

Aeronautical chart. A map used in air navigation containing

all or part of the following: topographic features, hazards and
obstructions, navigation aids, navigation routes, designated
airspace, and airports. See also Sectional Chart.
Aeronautical decision-making (ADM). A systematic
approach to the mental process used by pilots to consistently
determine the best course of action in response to a given
set of circumstances.

800-WX-BRIEF. Phone number for reaching an FAA

Automated Flight Service Station 24 hours a day almost
anywhere in the United States.

A/FD. See airport/facility directory.

Aborted takeoff. To terminate a planned takeoff when it is

determined that some condition exists which makes takeoff
or further flight dangerous.

AFSS. See automated flight service station.

Above ground level (AGL). The actual height above ground

level (AGL) at which the aircraft is flying.
Acceleration. Force involved in overcoming inertia, and
which may be defined as a change in velocity per unit of
time.

AFM. See aircraft flight manual.

Aircraft. A device that is used or intended to be used for

flight in the air.
Aircraft accident. An occurrence associated with the
operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time
any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight
and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any
person suffers death or serious injury or in which the aircraft
receives substantial damage. (NTSB 830.2)

G-1

Aircraft categories. (1) As used with respect to the

certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen,
means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples include:
powered parachute, airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-thanair, and weight-shift control. (2) As used with respect to the
certification of aircraft, means a grouping of aircraft based
upon intended use or operating limitations. Examples include:
transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and
provisional.
Aircraft flight manual (AFM). Also called the Pilots
Operating Handbook (POH), a document developed by the
aircraft manufacturer and approved by the FAA. It is specific
to a particular make and model aircraft by a serial number,
and contains operating procedures and limitations.
Aircraft operating instructions (AOI). An alternative to
the approved term, Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Airfoil. Any surface, such as a wing or propeller, which
provides aerodynamic force when it interacts with a moving
stream of air.
Airmanship. A sound acquaintance with the principles of
flight, the ability to operate an airplane with competence and
precision both on the ground and in the air, and the exercise
of sound judgment that results in optimal operational safety
and efficiency.
Airmanship skills. The skills of coordination, timing, control
touch, and speed sense in addition to the motor skills required
to fly an aircraft.
Airport. An area of land or water that is used or intended to
be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, including its
buildings and facilities, if any.

Airworthiness Directive (AD). A regulatory notice sent

out by the FAA to the registered owner of an aircraft
informing the owner of a condition that prevents the aircraft
from continuing to meet its conditions for airworthiness.
Compliance with AD notes must be within the required time
limit, and the fact of compliance, the date of compliance, and
the method of compliance must be recorded in the aircrafts
maintenance records.
Altimeter. A flight instrument that indicates altitude by
sensing pressure changes.
AME. See Aviation Medical Examiner.
Ammeter. An instrument installed in series with an electrical
load used to measure the amount of current flowing through
the load.
Angle of attack (AOA). The acute angle between the chord
line of the airfoil and the direction of the relative wind.
Angle of incidence. The angle formed by the chord line
of the wing at the keel of a WSC and a line parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the WSC carriage. The angle of incidence
changes in the WSC controlled by the pilot.
Anhedral. A downward slant from root to tip of an aircrafts
wing opposite from dihedral.
Annual inspection. A complete inspection of an aircraft and
engine, required by the Code of Federal Regulations, to be
accomplished every 12 calendar months on all certificated
aircraft. Only an A&P technician holding an Inspection
Authorization can conduct an annual inspection.
AOA. See angle of attack.

Airport/facility directory (A/FD). A publication of the

Federal Aviation Administration containing information
on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the
public. The A/FD contains communication data, navigational
facilities, and certain special notices and procedures.

AOI. See aircraft operating instructions.

Airspace. The space above a certain geographical area.

AROW. Certificates and documents required to be onboard

an aircraft to determine airworthiness: Airworthiness
certificate, Registration certificate, Operating limitations,
Weight and balance data.

Airworthiness. A state in which an aircraft or component

meets the conditions of its type design and is in a condition
for safe operation.

Arm. The horizontal distance in inches from the reference

datum line to the center of gravity of an item. Used in weight
and loading calculations.

ASOS. See Automated Surface Observing System.

Airworthiness Certificate. A certificate issued by the
FAA to aircraft that have been proven to meet the minimum
standards set down by the Code of Federal Regulations.

G-2

Aspect ratio. Span of a wing divided by its average chord.

Asymmetrical airfoil. An airfoil section that is not the same

on both sides of the chord line.

Balloon. The result of a roundout (flare) that is too aggressive

during landing, causing the aircraft to climb.

ATC. Air traffic control.

Bank attitude. The angle of the lateral axis relative to the

horizon.

ATIS. See Automatic Terminal Information Service.

Attitude. The position of an aircraft as determined by the
relationship of its axes and a reference, usually the earths
horizon.
Attitude of pilot. A personal motivational predisposition to
respond to persons, situations, or events in a given manner
that can, nevertheless, be changed or modified through
training as sort of a mental shortcut to decision-making.
Attitude management of pilot. The ability to recognize
hazardous attitudes in oneself and the willingness to modify
them as necessary through the application of an appropriate
antidote thought.
Automated flight service station. An FAA air traffic facility
that provides pilot briefings, en route radio communications,
and VFR search-and-rescue services.
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). Weather
reporting system which provides surface observations every
minute via digitized voice broadcasts and printed reports.
Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).
Automated weather reporting system consisting of various
sensors, a processor, a computer- generated voice subsystem,
and a transmitter to broadcast weather data.
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS). The
continuous broadcast (by radio or telephone) of recorded
noncontrol, essential but routine information in selected
terminal areas.
Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). A medical doctor
authorized to perform aviation medical exams for aviators.
Axes of an aircraft. Three imaginary lines that pass through
an aircrafts center of gravity. The axes can be considered
as imaginary axes around which the aircraft turns. The three
axes pass through the center of gravity at 90 angles to each
other. The axis from nose to tail is the longitudinal axis, the
axis that passes side to side along the wingspan is the lateral
axis and the axis that passes vertically through the center of
gravity is the vertical axis.
Ballistic parachute system (BPS). An optional parachute
system activated by the pilot where the parachute is extracted
for the WSC by a rocket.

Base leg. A flight path at right angles to the landing runway

off its approach end. The base leg normally extends from
the downwind leg to the intersection of the extended runway
centerline.
Battens. The airfoil ribs of a WSC that are removed to fold
up the wing.
Best-angle-of-climb speed (V X). The speed at which
the aircraft produces the most gain in altitude in a given
distance.
Best glide. The airspeed at which the aircraft glides the
furthest for the least altitude lost when in non-powered
flight.
Best-rate-of-climb speed (VY). The speed at which the
aircraft produces the most gain in altitude in a given amount
of time.
BPS. See ballistic parachute system.
Calibrated airspeed (CAS). Indicated airspeed corrected
for installation error and instrument error. Although
manufacturers attempt to keep airspeed errors to a minimum,
it is not possible to eliminate all errors throughout the
airspeed operating range. This error is generally greatest at
low airspeeds. In the cruising and higher airspeed ranges,
indicated airspeed and calibrated airspeed are approximately
the same. Refer to the airspeed calibration chart to correct
for possible airspeed errors.
Camber. The curvature of a wing when looking at a cross
section. A wing has upper camber on its top surface and lower
camber on its bottom surface.
Carburetor. (1) Pressure: A hydromechanical device
employing a closed feed system from the fuel pump to the
discharge nozzle. It meters fuel through fixed jets according
to the mass airflow through the throttle body and discharges
it under a positive pressure. Pressure carburetors are
distinctly different from float-type carburetors, as they do not
incorporate a vented float chamber or suction pickup from a
discharge nozzle located in the venturi tube. (2) Float-type:
Consists essentially of a main air passage through which the
engine draws its supply of air, a mechanism to control the
quantity of fuel discharged in relation to the flow of air, and a

G-3

means of regulating the quantity of fuel/air mixture delivered

to the engine cylinders.
Carburetor ice. Ice that forms inside the carburetor due to
the temperature drop caused by the vaporization of the fuel.
Induction system icing is an operational hazard because it
can cut off the flow of the fuel/air charge or vary the fuel/air
ratio.
Carriage. The engine and seats, attached by a structure
to wheels; sometimes referred to as the fuselage, cockpit,
chaise, or airframe.

Certified Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot Rating

(CFIS). A flight instructor authorized by the FAA to provide
flight instruction in designated category of aircraft for sport
pilots only.
CFI. See Certified Flight Instructor.
CFIS. See Certified Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot
Rating.
CFR. See Code of Federal Regulations.
CG. See center of gravity.

Carriage keel. The lower center tube in the carriage that runs
fore and aft which connects the mast to the front tube.
CAS. See calibrated airspeed.
Cavitation. A condition that exists in a fluid pump when
there is not enough pressure in the reservoir to force fluid
to the inlet of the pump. The pump picks up air instead of
fluid.
Center of gravity (CG). The point at which an aircraft would
balance if it were possible to suspend it at that point. It is the
mass center of the aircraft, or the theoretical point at which
the entire weight of the WSC is assumed to be concentrated.
It may be expressed in inches from the reference datum, or
in percent of mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). The location
depends on the distribution of weight in the aircraft.

Checklist. A list of procedures that provides a logical and

standardized method to operate a particular make and model
aircraft.
Checkride. A practical test administered by an FAA
examiner or designated examiner for the purpose of issuing
an FAA certificate or rating.
Chord line. An imaginary straight line drawn through an
airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
Circuit breaker. A circuit-protecting device that opens
the circuit in case of excess current flow. A circuit breaker
differs from a fuse in that it can be reset without having to
be replaced.
CL. See coefficient of lift.

Center of lift. The location along the chord line of an airfoil at

which all the lift forces produced by the airfoil are considered
to be concentrated.
Center of pressure (CP). The point along the wing chord
line where lift is considered to be concentrated.
Centrifugal force. The apparent force occurring in
curvilinear motion acting to deflect objects outward from the
axis of rotation. For instance, when pulling out of a dive, it
is the force pushing you down in your seat.
Centripetal force. The force in curvilinear motion acting
toward the axis of rotation. For instance, when pulling out
of a dive, it is the force that the seat exerts on the pilot to
offset the centrifugal force.
Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI). A flight instructor
authorized by the FAA to provide flight instruction in
designated category of aircraft.

G-4

Class A Airspace. Airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to

and including FL 600, including the airspace overlying the
waters within 12 NM of the coast of the 48 contiguous states
and Alaska; and designated international airspace beyond
12 NM of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska
within areas of domestic radio navigational signal or ATC
radar coverage, and within which domestic procedures are
applied.
Class B Airspace. Airspace from the surface to 10,000 feet
MSL surrounding the nations busiest airports in terms of
IFR operations or passenger numbers. The configuration of
each Class B airspace is individually tailored and consists
of a surface area and two or more layers, and is designed to
contain all published instrument procedures once an aircraft
enters the airspace. For all aircraft, an ATC clearance is
required to operate in the area, and aircraft so cleared receive
separation services within the airspace.

Class C Airspace. Airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet

above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding
those airports having an operational control tower, serviced
by radar approach control, and having a certain number
of IFR operations or passenger numbers. Although the
configuration of each Class C airspace area is individually
tailored, the airspace usually consists of a 5 NM radius core
surface area that extends from the surface up to 4,000 feet
above the airport elevation, and a 10 NM radius shelf area
that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport
elevation.

without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a

UNICOM, Multicom, automated flight service station, or
tower frequency and is identified in appropriate aeronautical
publications.

Class D Airspace. Airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet

above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding
those airports that have an operational control tower. The
configuration of each Class D airspace area is individually
tailored, and when instrument procedures are published,
the airspace will normally be designed to contain the
procedures.

Control bar. The structural part of the wing that connects

the flying wires the the wing and keel. This is also used for
the pilot to control the WSC pitch and roll in flight.

Class E Airspace. Airspace that is not Class A, Class B,

Class C, or Class D, and is controlled airspace.

Control pressure. The amount of physical exertion on the

control column necessary to achieve the desired attitude.

Class G Airspace. Airspace that is uncontrolled, except

when associated with a temporary control tower, and has
not been designated as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D,
or Class E airspace.

Control tower. A terminal facility that uses air/ground

communications, visual signaling, and other devices to
provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of
an airport or on the movement area. Authorizes aircraft to
land or takeoff at the airport controlled by the tower or to
transit the Class D airspace area regardless of the flight plan
or weather conditions. May also provide approach control
services (radar or nonradar).

Clear air turbulence. Turbulence not associated with any

visible moisture.
Clearance. ATC permission for an aircraft to proceed under
specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace, for the
purpose of providing separation between known aircraft.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Regulations issued
by the U.S. Federal Government as published in the Federal
Register.
Coefficient of lift (CL). The ratio between lift pressure and
dynamic pressure.
Cold front. The boundary between two air masses where
cold air is replacing warm air.
Combustion. Process of burning the fuel/air mixture in the
engine in a controlled and predictable manner.
Combustion chamber. The section of the engine into which
fuel is injected and burned.
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). A
frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport
advisory practices while operating to or from an airport

Controlled airspace. An airspace of defined dimensions

within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR
flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace
classification. Note: controlled airspace is a generic term
that encompasses Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and
Class E airspace.

Control frame. The wing structural triangle which connects

the control bar to the wing keel and provides the structure
for the lower flying wire attachments.

Controllability. A measure of the response of an aircraft

relative to the pilots flight control inputs.
Course. The intended direction of flight in the horizontal
plane measured in degrees from north.
Coordinated turn. Turn made by an aircraft where the
horizontal component of lift is equal to the centrifugal force
of the turn.
Crab angle. The angle formed between the direction an
aircraft is pointed and the direction it is tracking over the
ground, resulting from a crosswind component. Also called
the wind correction angle.
Crewmember. A person assigned to perform duty in an
aircraft during flight time.
Crew resource management (CRM). The application of
team management concepts in the flight deck environment,
including single pilots of general aviation aircraft. Pilots of
small aircraft, as well as crews of larger aircraft, must make
G-5

effective use of all available resources: human resources,

hardware, and information. Human resource groups include
but are not limited to pilots, dispatchers, cabin crewmembers,
maintenance personnel, and air traffic controllers.
Critical angle of attack. The angle of attack at which a wing
stalls regardless of airspeed, flight attitude, or weight.
CRM. See crew resource management.
Crossbar. The structural component of the WSC wing that
holds the leading edges in place.
Crosswind. Wind blowing across rather than parallel to
the direction of flight. In a traffic pattern, the crosswind leg
is a flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its
upwind end.
Crosswind component. The wind component, measured in
knots, at 90 to the longitudinal axis of the runway.
Crosswind correction. Correction applied in order to
maintain a straight ground track during flight when a
crosswind is present.
Crosswind landing. Landing made with a wind that is
blowing across rather than parallel to the landing direction.
Crosswind takeoffs. Takeoffs made during crosswind
conditions.
CTAF. See Common Traffic Advisory Frequency.
Datum. An imaginary vertical plane or line from which
all measurements of moment arm are taken. The datum is
established by the manufacturer.
DECIDE Model. Model developed to help pilots remember
the six-step decision-making process: Detect, Estimate,
Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate.
Density altitude. Pressure altitude corrected for variations
from standard temperature. When conditions are standard,
pressure altitude and density altitude are the same. If the
temperature is above standard, the density altitude is higher
than pressure altitude. If the temperature is below standard,
the density altitude is lower than pressure altitude. This is an
important altitude because it is directly related to the PPCs
performance.
Departure leg. The leg of the rectangular traffic pattern
that is a straight course aligned with, and leading from, the
takeoff runway.

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Designated pilot examiner (DPE). An individual designated

by the FAA to administer practical tests to pilot applicants.
Detonation. The sudden release of heat energy from fuel in
an aircraft engine caused by the fuel-air mixture reaching
its critical pressure and temperature. Detonation occurs as a
violent explosion rather than a smooth burning process.
Dew. Moisture that has condensed from water vapor. Usually
found on cooler objects near the ground, such as grass, as
the near-surface layer of air cools faster than the layers of
air above it.
Dewpoint. The temperature at which air reaches a state of
water saturation.
Dihedral. The positive acute angle between the lateral
axis of an airplane and a line through the center of a wing
or horizontal stabilizer. Dihedral contributes to the lateral
stability of an aircraft.
Directional stability. Stability about the vertical axis of an
aircraft, whereby an aircraft tends to return, on its own, to
flight aligned with the relative wind when disturbed from that
equilibrium state. The wing design is the primary contributor
to directional stability, causing a WSC in flight to align with
the relative wind.
Ditching. Emergency landing in water.
Double-surface wing. Two pieces of fabric for most of the
WSC wing which enclose the crossbar; typically used for
higher speed wings.
Downwind leg. Leg of the traffic pattern flown parallel to the
landing runway, but in a direction opposite to the intended
landing direction.
DPE. See designated pilot examiner.
Drag. An aerodynamic force on a body acting parallel and
opposite to the relative wind. The resistance of the atmosphere
to the relative motion of an aircraft. Drag opposes thrust and
limits the speed of the aircraft.
Drag coefficient (CD). A dimensionless number used to
define the amount of total drag produced by an aircraft.
Drift angle. Angle between heading and track.
Drift correction. Correction that is applied to counter the
affects of wind on an aircrafts flight and ground track.

Dual flight. Flight time that is received and logged as training

time. Dual flight time must be endorsed by a Certificated
Flight Instructor.
Dynamic hydroplaning. A condition that exists when
landing on a surface with standing water deeper than the
tread depth of the tires. When the brakes are applied, there
is a possibility that the brake will lock up and the tire will
ride on the surface of the water, much like a water ski. When
tires are hydroplaning, directional control and braking action
are virtually impossible. An effective anti-skid system can
minimize the effects of hydroplaning.
Dynamic pressure. The pressure a moving fluid would have
if it were stopped. Reference 14 CFR section 61.51(h).
Dynamic stability. The property of an aircraft that causes
it, when disturbed from straight-and level flight, to develop
forces or moments that restore the original condition of
straight and level.

Error chain. A series of mistakes that may lead to an accident

or incident. Two basic principles generally associated with
the creation of an error chain are: (1) one bad decision often
leads to another; and (2) as a string of bad decisions grows, it
reduces the number of subsequent alternatives for continued
safe flight. Aeronautical decision making is intended to break
the error chain before it can cause an accident or incident.
Evaporation. The transformation of a liquid to a gaseous
state, such as the change of water to water vapor.
Exhaust. The rear opening of a turbine engine exhaust duct.
The nozzle acts as an orifice, the size of which determines
the density and velocity of the gases as they emerge from
the engine.
Exhaust gas temperature (EGT). The temperature of the
exhaust gases as they leave the cylinders of a reciprocating
engine.

EFAS. See En Route Flight Advisory Service.

Exhaust manifold. The part of the engine that collects

exhaust gases leaving the cylinders.

EGT. See exhaust gas temperature.

FAA. See Federal Aviation Administration.

E-LSA (Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft). An aircraft

issued an experimental certificate under 14 CFR part 21.

FAA inspector. FAA personnel who can administer practical

and proficiency tests and can issue pilot certificates.

ELT. See emergency locator transmitter.

FAA knowledge exam. Written exam administered by the

FAA as a prerequisite for pilot certification. Passing the
knowledge and practical exams is required for pilot applicants
to be issued FAA certificates or ratings.

Emergency frequency. Frequency that is used by aircraft in

distress to gain ATC assistance.121.5 MHz is an international
emergency frequency guarded by Flight Service Stations and
some military and civil aircraft. Reference AIM paragraph
6-3-1.
Emergency locator transmitter (ELT). A small, selfcontained radio transmitter that will automatically, upon the
impact of a crash, transmit an emergency signal on 121.5,
243.0, or 406.0 MHz.
Energy management. The ability for a pilot to maintain
high kinetic energy levels in turbulent air and while near
the ground is energy management for WSC. Higher speed
and higher power is higher energy. Lower speed and lower
power is lower energy.
En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS). An en route
weather-only AFSS service.
Encoding altimeter. A special type of pressure altimeter
used to send a signal to the air traffic controller on the ground,
showing the pressure altitude the aircraft is flying.

Federal airways. Class E airspace areas that extend upward

from 1,200 feet to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, unless
otherwise specified.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The federal
agency within the Department of Transportation that has
the responsibility of promoting safety in the air, by both
regulation and education.
Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). The former name of
the part of 14 CFR comprised of rules prescribed by the FAA
governing all aviation activities in the United States.
Field elevation. The highest point of an airports usable
runways measured in feet from mean sea level.
Final. Leg of the traffic pattern that is a descending flightpath
starting from the completion of the base-to-final turn and
extending to the point of touchdown.

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Fixed-pitch propellers. Propellers with fixed blade angles.

Fixed-pitch propellers are designed as climb propellers,
cruise propellers, or standard propellers.
Fixed-wing aircraft. An aircraft whose wing is rigidly
attached to the structure. The term fixed-wing is used to
distinguish these aircraft from rotary-wing aircraft, such as
helicopters and autogiros.
Flare. See roundout.
Flight plan. Specified information relating to the intended
flight of an aircraft that is filed orally or in writing with an
FSS or an ATC facility.
Flightpath. The line, course, or track along which an aircraft
is flying or is intended to be flown.
Fog. Cloud consisting of numerous minute water droplets
and based at the surface; droplets are small enough to be
suspended in the earths atmosphere indefinitely. (Unlike
drizzle, it does not fall to the surface. Fog differs from a
cloud only in that a cloud is not based at the surface, and is
distinguished from haze by its wetness and gray color.)
Force (F). The energy applied to an object that attempts to
cause the object to change its direction, speed, or motion.
In aerodynamics, it is expressed as F, T (thrust), L (lift), W
(weight), or D (drag), usually in pounds.
Four forces. The four fundamental forces of flight: lift,
weight, drag and thrust.

to injection nozzles in the heads of all cylinders just outside

of the intake valve. It differs from sequential fuel injection in
which a timed charge of high-pressure fuel is sprayed directly
into the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
Fuel system. The system that delivers fuel to the carburetors
or the fuel injection system composed of a fuel tank, fuel
pickup, fuel filter, and fuel pump.
Fuselage. The section of the WSC carriage that consists of the
cockpit, containing seats for the occupants and attachments
for the landing gear and wing.
G loads. Load imposed on an airframe due to inertia
(centrifugal force). 1G of load factor represents the weight
of the actual aircraft. 2G represents effectively twice the
aircrafts actual weight.
Glidepath. The path of an aircraft relative to the ground
while approaching a landing.
Glide ratio. The ratio of the forward distance traveled to the
vertical distance an aircraft descends when it is operating
without power. For example, an aircraft with a glide ratio of
10:1 will descend about 1,000 feet for every 2 miles (10,560
feet) it moves forward.
Global positioning system (GPS). A satellite based radio
positioning, navigation, and time transfer system used for as
a reference for navigation and measures ground speed.
Go-around. The termination of a landing approach.
Reference the AIM Pilot/Controller Glossary.

Four-stroke engine. The principle of operation for some

reciprocating engines involving the conversion of fuel
energy into mechanical energy. The strokes are called intake,
compression, power, and exhaust.

Go/No-go decision. Decision of whether or not to make

a flight based on environmental, personal or mechanical
factors. A focus area for human factors study.

Front. The boundary between two different air masses.

GPS. See global positioning system.

Front tube. The structural member of the carriage that

attaches to the top of the carriage mast to the front of the
fuselage. It acts as a control stop for the control bar to avoid
high angles of attack.

Gross weight. The total weight of a fully loaded aircraft

including the fuel, oil, crew, passengers, and cargo.

Fuel efficiency. Defined as the amount of fuel used to produce

a specific thrust or horsepower divided by the total potential
power contained in the same amount of fuel.
Fuel injection. A fuel metering system used on some aircraft
reciprocating engines in which a constant flow of fuel is fed

G-8

Ground-adjustable propeller. A type of aircraft propeller

whose blade pitch angle can be adjusted when the engine is
not running. The adjustment requires loosening the blades
in the hub.
Ground effect. A condition of improved performance
encountered when an airfoil is operating very close to the
ground. When an airfoil is under the influence of ground

effect, there is a reduction in upwash, downwash, and wingtip

vortices. As a result of the reduced wingtip vortices, induced
drag is reduced.
Ground track. The aircrafts path over the ground when
in flight.
Ground wires. The wires on top of the wing attached to the
king post which hold up the wings on the ground and during
negative loads during flight. The fore to aft ground wires
which hold the king post in place fore to aft.

Hyperventilation. Occurs when an individual is experiencing

emotional stress, fright, or pain, and the breathing rate and
depth increase, although the carbon dioxide level in the
blood is already at a reduced level. The result is an excessive
loss of carbon dioxide from the body, which can lead to
unconsciousness due to the respiratory systems overriding
mechanism to regain control of breathing.
Hypoxia. State of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient
to impair functions of the brain and other organs.
ICAO. See International Civil Aviation Organization.

Groundspeed (GS). The actual speed of an aircraft over the

ground. It is true airspeed adjusted for wind. Groundspeed
decreases with a headwind, and increases with a tailwind. A
GPS measures ground speed.

Ident. Air Traffic Control request for a pilot to push the

button on the transponder to identify return on the controllers
scope.

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS).

Recorded weather forecasts broadcast to airborne pilots over
selected VORs.

IFR. See instrument flight rules.

Heading. The direction in which the nose of the aircraft is

pointing during flight.

IMC. See instrument meteorological conditions.

Headwind. A wind which blows from the direction the

aircraft is flying. The ground speed of an aircraft (the speed
the aircraft is moving over the ground) is less than the speed
through the air by the velocity of the headwind.
Headwind component. The component of atmospheric
winds that acts opposite to the aircrafts flightpath.
HIWAS. See Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory
Service.
Horsepower. The term, originated by inventor James Watt,
means the amount of work a horse could do in one second.
One horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second, or
33,000 foot-pounds per minute.
Hour meter. An instrument installed in many aircraft to show
the actual number of hours the engine has operated.
Hydroplaning. A condition that exists when landing on a
surface with standing water deeper than the tread depth of
the tires. When the brakes are applied, there is a possibility
that the brake will lock up and the tire will ride on the
surface of the water, much like a water ski. When the tires
are hydroplaning, directional control and braking action
are virtually impossible. An effective anti-skid system can
minimize the effects of hydroplaning.

ILS. See instrument landing system.

Indicated airspeed (IAS). The direct instrument reading

obtained from the airspeed indicator, uncorrected for
variations in atmospheric density, installation error, or
instrument error. Manufacturers use this airspeed as the basis
for determining airplane performance. Takeoff, landing, and
stall speeds listed in the AFM or POH are indicated airspeeds
and do not normally vary with altitude or temperature.
Indicated altitude. The altitude read directly from the
altimeter (uncorrected) when it is set to the current altimeter
setting.
Incident. An occurrence other than an accident, associated
with the operation of an aircraft, which
affects or could affect the safety of operations.
Induced drag. That part of total drag which is created by
the production of lift. Induced drag increases with a decrease
in airspeed.
Instrument flight rules (IFR). Rules governing the
procedures for conducting instrument flight. Also a term used
by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight plan.
Instrument landing system (ILS). An electronic system that
provides both horizontal and vertical guidance to a specific
runway, used to execute a precision instrument approach
procedure. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

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Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility,

distance from clouds, and ceiling less than the minimums
specified for visual meteorological conditions. Flight without
visual reference to the horizon.
Interference drag. Type of drag produced by placing two
objects adjacent to one another. Combines the effects of form
drag and skin friction.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The
United Nations agency for developing the principles and
techniques of international air navigation, and fostering
planning and development of international civil air
transport.
International standard atmosphere (IAS). A model of
standard variation of pressure and temperature.
Inversion. An increase in temperature with altitude.
Isobars. Lines which connect points of equal barometric
pressure.
Jet stream. A high-velocity narrow stream of winds, usually
found near the upper limit of the troposphere, which flows
generally from west to east.
Keel. See wing keel and carriage keel.
Judgment. The mental process of recognizing and analyzing
all pertinent information in a particular situation, a rational
evaluation of alternative actions in response to it, and a timely
decision on which action to take.
KIAS. Knots indicated airspeed.
Kinesthesia. The sensing of movements by feel.
King post. The post on top of the wing which is attached to
the keel that holds used for the ground wires which hold up
the wings on the ground and during negative loads during
flight.

Lift. One of the four main forces acting on an aircraft. On a

WSC, an upward force created by the effect of airflow as it
passes over and under the wing.
Lift coefficient. A coefficient representing the lift of a given
airfoil. Lift coefficient is obtained by dividing the lift by the
free-stream dynamic pressure and the representative area
under consideration.
Lift/drag ratio. The efficiency of an airfoil section. It is the
ratio of the coefficient of lift to the coefficient of drag for
any given angle of attack.
Lift-off. The act of becoming airborne as a result of the wings
lifting the airplane off the ground, or the pilot rotating the
nose up, increasing the angle of attack to start a climb.
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA). An aircraft that meets the
requirements defined in 14 CFR section 1.1, regardless of
airworthiness certification.
Limit load factor. Amount of stress, or load factor, that an
aircraft can withstand before structural damage or failure
occurs.
Load factor. The ratio of a specified load to the total weight
of the aircraft. The specified load is expressed in terms of
any of the following: aerodynamic forces, inertial forces, or
ground or water reactions. Also referred to as G-loading.
Logbook. A record of activities: flight, instruction, inspection
and maintenance. Reference 14 CFR part 43, 14 CFR section
61.51, and 14 CFR section 91.417.
Longitude. Measurement east or west of the Prime Meridian
in degrees, minutes, and seconds. The Prime Meridian is 0
longitude and runs through Greenwich, England. Lines of
longitude are also referred to as meridians.
Longitudinal axis. An imaginary line through an aircraft
from nose to tail, passing through its center of gravity about
which the aircraft rolls in flight. The longitudinal axis is also
called the roll axis of the aircraft.

Knowledge exam. See FAA Knowledge Exam.

Lateral axis. An imaginary line passing through the center
of gravity of a WSC and extending across the WSC from one
side of the aircraft to the other side.

Longitudinal stability (pitching). Stability about the lateral

axis. A desirable characteristic of an airplane whereby it tends
to return to its trimmed angle of attack after displacement.
LSA. See Light-Sport Aircraft.

Leading edge. The part of an airfoil that meets the airflow

first. This as a structural tube on the WSC airfoil.

G-10

MAC. See mean aerodynamic chord.

Magnetic compass. A device for determining direction

measured from magnetic north.
Magneto. A self-contained engine-driven unit that supplies
electrical current to the spark plugs, completely independent
of the airplanes electrical system. Normally there are two
magnetos per engine.
Make/model. Refers to the manufacturer and model of a
specific aircraft.
Maneuvering altitude. An altitude above the ground
that allows a sufficient margin of height to permit safe
maneuvering.
Maneuvering speed (VA). The maximum speed at which full,
abrupt control movement can be used without overstressing
the airframe.
Maneuverability. Ability of an aircraft to change directions
along a flightpath and withstand the stresses imposed upon
it.
Mast. The carriage structural component that is attached to
the rear of the carriage keel and the top of the front tube. The
top is the carriage attachment the wing.
Maximum gross weight. The maximum authorized weight
of the aircraft and all of its equipment as specified in the
POH/AFM/AOI for the aircraft.
Maximum structure cruising speed (VNO). The speed not
to exceed except in smooth air; the upper limit of the green
arc.

METAR. See Aviation Routine Weather Report.

Microburts. A strong downdraft which normally occurs over
horizontal distances of 1 NM or less and vertical distances of
less than 1,000 feet. In spite of its small horizontal scale, an
intense microburst could induce windspeeds greater than 100
knots and downdrafts as strong as 6,000 feet per minute.
Military Operations Area (MOA). Airspace of defined
vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of
separating certain military training activity from IFR
traffic.
Military Training Routes (MTR). Special routes developed
to allow the military to conduct low-altitude, high-speed
training.
Minimum controllable airspeed. An airspeed at which any
further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or
reduction in power, would result in an immediate stall.
Minimum drag speed (L/DMAX). The point on the total
drag curve where the lift-to-drag ratio is the greatest. At this
speed, total drag is minimized.
Mindset. A factor in aeronautical decision making where
decision making is influenced by preconceived ideas about
the outcome of events. For example, an expectation of
improving weather conditions can lead to increased risk
during a flight.
Mixture. The ratio of fuel to air entering the engines
cylinders.
MOA. See Military operations Area.

Mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). The average distance

from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing.
Mean sea level (MSL). The average height of the surface
of the sea for all stages of tide. A number preceding MSL
indicates altitude in feet above mean sea level.

Mode C transponder. A receiver/transmitter which will

generate a radar reply signal upon proper interrogation; the
interrogation and reply being on different frequencies. Mode
C means the reply signal includes altitude information.

Mechanical Turbulence. Type of turbulence caused by

obstructions on the ground interfering with smooth flow
of the wind. Trees, buildings and terrain can all cause
mechanical turbulence.

Moment. A force that causes or tries to cause an object to

rotate. The product of the weight of an item multiplied by its
arm. Moments are expressed in pound-inches (lb-in). Total
moment is the weight of the PPC multiplied by the distance
between the datum and the CG.

Medical certificate. Acceptable evidence of physical fitness

on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

Moment arm. The distance from a datum to the applied

force.

Medium-banked turn. Turn resulting from a degree of bank

(approximately 20 to 45 degrees) at which the WSC remains
at a constant bank.

MSL. See mean sea level.

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National Airspace System (NAS). The common network of

United States airspace. air navigation facilities, equipment
and services, airports or landing areas; sectional charts,
information and services; rules, regulations and procedures,
technical information; and manpower and material.
National Security Area (NSA). Area consisting of airspace
of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at
locations where there is a requirement for increased security
and safety of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to
voluntarily avoid flying through the depicted NSA. When it
is necessary to provide a greater level of security and safety,
flight in NSAs may be temporarily prohibited. Regulatory
prohibitions are disseminated via NOTAMs.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A United
States Government independent organization responsible for
investigations of accidents involving aviation, highways,
waterways, pipelines, and railroads in the United States.
NTSB is charged by congress to investigate every civil
aviation accident in the United States.
NAVAID. Naviagtional aid.
NAV/COM. Navigation and communication radio.
Newtons Third Law of Motion. Whenever one body exerts
a force on another, the second body always exerts on the first,
a force that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
Nontowered Airport. An airport that does not have an
operating control tower. Two-way radio communications
are not required at uncontrolled airports, although it is good
operating practice for pilots to transmit their intentions on
the specified frequency.
NOTAM. See Notice to Airmen.
Notice to Airmen. A notice containing information
concerning facilities, services, or procedures, the timely
knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with
flight operations.

Overcontrolling. Using more movement in the control

column than is necessary to achieve the desired pitch-andbank condition.
Overshooting. The act of over flying an intended spot for
landing or flying through a course intended for intercept.
Overspeed. A condition in which an engine has produced
more rpm than the manufacturer recommends, or a condition
in which the actual engine speed is higher than the desired
engine speed as set on the propeller control.
Overtemp. A condition in which a device has reached a
temperature above that approved by the manufacturer or any
exhaust temperature that exceeds the maximum allowable for
a given operating condition or time limit. Can cause internal
damage to an engine.
Parallel runways. Two or more runways at the same airport
whose centerlines are parallel. In addition to runway number,
parallel runways are designated as L(left) and R(right)
or if three parallel runways exist, L(left), C (center) and
R(right).
Parasite drag. That part of total drag created by the design or
shape of PPC parts. Parasite drag increases with an increase
in airspeed.
Pattern altitude. The common altitude used for aircraft
maneuvering in the traffic pattern. Usually 1,000 above the
airport surface.
Personality tendencies. Personal traits and characteristics of
an individual that are set at a very early age and extremely
resistant to change.
P-factor. A tendency for an aircraft to yaw to the left due
to the descending propeller blade on the right producing
more thrust than the ascending blade on the left. This
occurs when the aircrafts longitudinal axis is in a climbing
attitude in relation to the relative wind. The P-factor would
be to the right if the aircraft had a counterclockwise rotating
propeller.

Notice To Airman (NOTAM). Notice to Airman that is

regulatory in nature.

PIC. See pilot in command.

Octane. The rating system of gasoline with regard to its

antidetonating qualities.

Pilotage. Navigational technique based on flight by reference

to ground landmarks.

Operating limitations. Limitations published by aircraft

manufacturers to define limitations on maneuvers, flight load
factors, speeds and other limits. Presented in the aircraft in
the form of placards and printed in the limitations section of
the aircraft flight manual.

Pilot in command. The pilot responsible for the operation

and safety of an aircraft.

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Pilots Operating Handbook (POH). A document

developed by the aircraft manufacturer and contains the
Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) information or Aircraft
Operating Instructions (AOI) information.

PPC. See powered parachute.

PPCL. Powered parachute land.
PPCS. Powered parachute sea.

Pitch. The rotation of a WSC about its lateral axis.

Pitch angle. The angle between the wing and the horizontal
plane of the earth.
Pitch attitude. The angle of the longitudinal axis relative
to the horizon. Pitch attitude serves as a visual reference for
the pilot to maintain orchange airspeed.
Placards. Small statements or pictorial signs permanently
fixed in the cockpit and visible to the pilot. Placards are used
for operating limitations (e.g., weight or speeds) or to indicate
the position of an operating lever (e.g., landing gear retracted
or down and locked).
Planform. The shape or form of a wing as viewed from
above. It may be long and tapered, short and rectangular, or
various other shapes.
POH. See Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Positive Dynamic Stability. The tendency over time for an
aircraft to return to a predisturbed
state.
Position lights. Lights on an aircraft consisting of a red
light on the left wing, a green light on the right wing, and
a white light on the tail. The Code of Federal Regulations
requires that these lights be displayed in flight from sunset
to sunrise.
Positive static stability. The initial tendency to return to a
state of equilibrium when disturbed from that state.
Porpoising. Oscillating around the lateral axis of the aircraft
during landing.
Powered parachute (PPC). A powered aircraft comprised
of a flexible or semi-rigid wing connected to a fuselage (cart)
so that the wing is not in position for flight until the aircraft
is in motion. The fuselage of a powered parachute contains
the aircraft engine, a seat for each occupant and is attached
to the aircrafts landing gear.
Power-off descent. Aircraft configuration where a descent
occurs with power at idle.
Powerplant. A complete engine and propeller combination
with accessories.

Practical test. Flight test administered by an FAA examiner

or designated examiner as a prerequisite for pilot certification.
Successful completion of the practical test is required to
earn a pilot certificate or rating. Commonly known as a
checkride.
Practical Test Standards (PTS). An FAA published
document of standards that must be met for the issuance
of a particular pilot certificate or rating. FAA inspectors
and designated pilot examiners use these standards when
conducting pilot practical tests, and flight instructors use the
PTS while preparing applicants for practical tests.
Preflight inspection. Aircraft inspection conducted
to determine if an aircraft is mechanically and legally
airworthy.
Preignition. Ignition occurring in the cylinder before the
time of normal ignition. Preignition is often caused by a
local hot spot in the combustion chamber igniting the fuel/air
mixture.
Pressure altitude. The altitude indicated when the altimeter
setting window (barometric scale) is adjusted to 29.92. This
is the altitude above the standard datum plane, which is a
theoretical plane where air pressure (corrected to 15 C)
equals 29.92 "Hg. Pressure altitude is used to compute density
altitude, true altitude, true airspeed, and other performance
data.
Private airport. Airport that is privately owned and not
available to the public without prior permission. They are
depicted on sectional charts for emergency and landmark
purposes.
Private Pilot Certificate. An FAA-issued pilot certificate
permitting carriage of passengers on a not-for-hire basis.
Reference 14 CFR part 61.
Prohibited area. Designated airspace within which flight
of aircraft is prohibited.
Propeller. A device for propelling an aircraft that,
when rotated, produces by its action on the air, a thrust
approximately perpendicular to its plane of rotation. It
includes the control components normally supplied by its
manufacturer.

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Propeller blade angle. The angle between the propeller

chord and the propeller plane of rotation.
Propeller blast. The volume of air accelerated behind a
propeller producing thrust.
Propeller slipstream. The volume of air accelerated behind
a propeller producing thrust.
PTS. See Practical Test Standards.
Public airport. Airport that is available to the aviation
public.
Pusher configuration. Propeller configuration where the
propeller shaft faces the rear of the aircraft. Thrust produced
by the propeller pushes the aircraft, rather than pulling it.
Reciprocating engine. An engine that converts the heat
energy from burning fuel into the reciprocating movement of
the pistons. This movement is converted into a rotary motion
by the connecting rods and crankshaft.
Reduction gear. The gear arrangement in an aircraft engine
that allows the engine to turn at a faster speed than the
propeller.
Reflex. The opposite curvature of the airfoil at the trailing
edge which produces a positive pitching moment of the
WSC airfoil.
Reflex lines. Wires attached to the top of the king post and
the trailing edge of the airfoil to maintain the reflex of the
airfoil, used on some wings for trim by raising and lowering
the trailing edge of the wing.
Region of reverse command. Flight regime in which flight
at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a
lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to
maintain altitude.
Registration certificate. A federal certificate that documents
aircraft ownership.
Relative humidity. The ratio of the existing amount of
water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the maximum
amount that could exist at that temperature; usually expressed
in percent.
Relative wind. The direction the wind strikes an airfoil. If a
wing moves forward horizontally, the relative wind moves
backward horizontally. Relative wind is parallel to and
opposite the flightpath of the airplane.

G-14

Restricted area. Airspace designated under 14 CFR part

73 within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly
prohibited, is subject to restriction.
Ribs. The parts of an aircraft wing structure that give the
wing its aerodynamic cross section. WSC has battens that
are inserted in to the sail that act as ribs.
Risk. The future impact of a hazard that is not eliminated
or controlled.
Risk elements. The four fundamental areas of exposure to
risk: the pilot, the aircraft, the environment, and the type of
operation that comprise any given aviation situation.
Risk management. The part of the decision making process
which relies on situational awareness, problem recognition,
and good judgment to reduce risks associated with each
flight.
Roll. The rotation of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis. It
is controlled by moving the control bar side to side.
Roundout (flare). The slow, smooth transition from a normal
approach attitude to a landing attitude. This maneuver is
accomplished in a WSC by easing forward on the control
bar from approach speed as the WSC gets near the ground
for landing to reduce the descent rate to zero as the back
whels are inches above the ground, continuing to move the
control bar forward reducing speed as the back wheels are
inches above the landing surface, and continuing to push the
control bar full forward until the back wheels settle to the
surface for touchdown.
RPM. Revolutions per minute for the engine crankshaft. A
measure of rotational speed. One rpm is one revolution made
in one minute.
Runway. A defined rectangular area on a land airport
prepared for the landing and takeoff run of aircraft along its
length. Runways are normally numbered in relation to their
magnetic direction rounded off to the nearest 10 degrees (e.g.,
Runway 1, Runway 25).
Runway incursion. Any occurrence at an airport involving
an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that
creates a collision hazard or results in loss of separation
with an aircraft taking off, intending to takeoff, landing, or
intending to land.
Runway threshold markings. Runway threshold markings
come in two configurations. They either consist of eight
longitudinal stripes of uniform dimensions disposed

symmetrically about the runway centerline, or the number of

stripes is related to the runway width. A threshold marking
helps identify the beginning of the runway that is available
for landing. In some instances, the landing threshold may
be displaced.
Safety directive. A manufacturer issued change to a S-LSA
that must be complied with. This is similar to an airworthiness
directive which is a regulatory notice sent out by the FAA to
the registered owner of an aircraft informing the owner of a
condition that prevents the aircraft from continuing to meet
its conditions for airworthiness. Airworthiness Directives
(AD notes) must be complied with within the required time
limit, and the fact of compliance, the date of compliance, and
the method of compliance must be recorded in the aircrafts
maintenance records.
SAR. See search and rescue.
Scan. A procedure used by the pilot to visually identify all
resources of information in flight.
Scanning. Systematic means of searching for other aircraft.
Scanning is most effective when successive areas of the
sky are brought into focus using a series of short, regularly
spaced eye movements.
Scenario-based training. The instructor provides pilot,
aircraft, environment, and operational risk elements to train
the student to utilize ADM in making the best decision for
the given set of circumstances.
SD. See safety directave.
Sea level. A reference height used to determine standard
atmospheric conditions and altitude measurements.
Search and rescue (SAR). A lifesaving service provided
through the combined efforts of the federal agencies signatory
to the National SAR plan along with state agencies.
Sectional charts. Designed for visual navigation of slow
or medium speed aircraft. Topographic information on
these charts features the portrayal of relief, and a judicious
selection of visual check points for VFR flight. Aeronautical
information includes visual and radio aids to navigation,
airports, controlled airspace, restricted areas, obstructions
and related data.
See and avoid. When weather conditions permit, pilots
operating IFR or VFR are required to observe and maneuver
to avoid other aircraft. Right-of-way rules are contained in
14 CFR part 91.

Segmented circle. A visual indicator around a windsock

or tetrahedron designed to show the traffic pattern for each
runway.
Shallow-banked turn. Turns in which the bank is less than
approximately 20 degrees.
Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM). Area of human
factors study that addresses application of management skills
in the cockpit. Single pilots of small aircraft must make
effective use of all available resources; human resources,
hardware, and information.
Single surface wing. one piece of fabric for most of the
airfoil on a WSC with the cross bar exposed to the airflow.
Typically used for slower wings.
Situational awareness. The accurate perception and
understanding of all the factors and conditions within the four
fundamental risk elements that affect safety before, during,
and after the flight.
Skills and procedures. The procedural, psychomotor, and
perceptual skills used to control a specific aircraft or its
systems. They are the airmanship abilities that are gained
through conventional training, are perfected, and become
almost automatic through experience.
Skin. The outside covering of an aircraft airframe.
Skin friction drag. The type of parasite drag resulting from
a rough surface which deflects the streamlines of air on the
surface, causing resistance to smooth airflow.
S-LSA (Special Light-Sport Aircraft). An aircraft issued a
special airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 CFR
section 21.290 in the light-sport category. These aircraft meet
the ASTM industry-developed consensus standards.
Solo flight. Flight that is conducted and logged when a pilot
is the sole occupant of an aircraft.
Spatial disorientation. Specifically refers to the lack of
orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement
of the WSC in space.
Special flight permit. A flight permit issued to an aircraft
that does not meet airworthiness requirements but is capable
of safe flight. A special flight permit can be issued to move
an aircraft for the purposes of maintenance or repair, buyer
delivery, manufacturer flight tests, evacuation from danger,
or customer demonstration. Also referred to as a ferry
permit.

G-15

Special Use Airspace (SUA). Airspace that exists where

activities must be confined because of their nature. Consists
of prohibited, restricted, warning, military operations, and
alert areas.
Speed. The distance traveled in a given time.
Sport Pilot Certificate. An FAA-issued pilot certificate,
allowing the holder to operate a light-sport aircraft in the
category, class, make and model for which they are endorsed
to do so.
SRM. See Single Pilot Resource Management.
Stabilized Approach. A landing approach in which the pilot
establishes and maintains a constant angle glidepath towards
a predetermined point on the landing runway. It is based on
the pilots judgment of certain visual cues, and depends on
the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and
configuration.
Stall. A rapid decrease in lift caused by the separation of
airflow from the wings surface brought on by exceeding
the critical angle of attack. A stall can occur at any pitch
attitude or airspeed.
Stalling speed. For WSC, the power-off stall speed at the
maximum takeoff weight (the lower limit of the green arc).
Standard airport traffic pattern. The left-hand turn traffic
flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing at, taxiing on, or
taking off from an airport. Reference 14 CFR section 91.126
(a)(1) and AIM chapter 4, section 3.
Standard Atmosphere. Consisting of those atmospheric
conditions at sea level that include a barometric pressure
of 29.92 inches of mercury ("Hg) or 1013.2 millibars, and
a temperature of 15 C (59 F). Pressure and temperature
normally decrease as altitude increases. The standard lapse
rate in the lower atmosphere for each 1,000 feet of altitude
is approximately 1 "Hg and 2 C (3.5 F). For example, the
standard pressure and temperature at 3,000 feet mean sea
level (MSL) is 26.92 "Hg (29.92 3) and 9 C (15 6).
Static pressure. The pressure of air that is still, or not
moving, measured perpendicular to the surface exposed to
the air.
Static stability. The initial tendency an aircraft displays
when disturbed from a state of equilibrium.
Stationary front. A front that is moving at a speed of less
than 5 knots.

G-16

Steep turn. Turn resulting from a degree of bank of 45

degrees or more.
Straight-in approach. Entry into the traffic pattern by
interception of the extended runway centerline (final
approach course) without executing any other portion of the
traffic pattern.
Stress management. The personal analysis of the kinds of
stress experienced while flying, the application of appropriate
stress assessment tools, and other coping mechanisms.
Strobe. A high-intensity white flashing light. Strobe lights
are located on aircraft wingtips to increase aircraft visibility
in low light conditions.
Strut. Wing structural member used to hold the wings in
place instead of the flying and ground wires for some designs.
The strutted wing does not use a kingpost.
Student Pilot Certificate. An FAA issued certificate that
permits student pilots to exercise solo pilot privileges with
limitations. This can be a students FAA third class medical
or a student pilot certificate issued for flying an LSA using
a drivers license as medical eligibility.
SUA. See special use airspace.
Surface analysis chart. A report that depicts an analysis of
the current surface weather. Shows the areas of high and low
pressure, fronts, temperatures, dewpoints, wind directions
and speeds, local weather, and visual obstructions.
Tailwind. Wind blowing in the same direction the aircraft is
moving. When an aircraft is flying with a tailwind, its speed
over the ground is equal to its speed through the air, plus the
speed the air is moving over the ground.
Takeoff clearance. ATC authorization for an aircraft to
depart a runway. It is predicated on known traffic and known
physical airport conditions.
Taxi. The movement of an aircraft under its own power
while on the ground.
Taxiway. Airport area designated for aircraft surface
movement.
Temporary flight restriction (TFR). Designated airspace
of specified dimension where flight is temporarily restricted
or prohibited. NOTAMs are issued to advise airmen of local
TFR restrictions.

Terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF). A report established

for the 5 statute mile radius around an airport. Utilizes the
same descriptors and abbreviations as the METAR report.
Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA). Area where
participating pilots can receive additional radar services, the
purpose of which is to provide separation between all IFR
operations and participating VFR aircraft.

Traffic pattern. The traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft

landing at or taking off from an airport.
Traffic pattern indicators. Ground based visual indicators
that identify traffic pattern direction at certain airports.
Trailing edge. The aft edge of the airfoil. In normal flight,
it is the portion of the airfoil where airflow over the upper
surface rejoins the lower surface airflow.

TFR. See temporary flight restriction.

Thermal. A buoyant plume or bubble of rising air.
Throttle. The control in an aircraft that regulates the power
or thrust the pilot wants the engine to develop from the valve
in a carburetor or fuel control unit that determines the amount
of fuel-air mixture that is fed to the engine.
Thrust. The force which imparts a change in the velocity
of a mass. A forward force which propels the WSC through
the air.

Training bars. An attachment to the control frame which

allows the instructor in the rear seat to move the control bar
and control the pitch and bank with a solid attachment.
Transponder. The airborne portion of the secondary
surveillance radar system. The transponder emits a reply
when queried by a radar facility.
Tricycle gear configuration. Landing gear configuration
employing a third wheel located on the nose of the aircraft.

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

That portion of the code formerly called the Federal Aviation
Regulations (FAR) governing the operation of aircraft,
airways, and airmen.

True airspeed. Actual airspeed, determined by applying a

correction for pressure altitude and temperature to the CAS.
Because air density decreases with an increase in altitude, an
airplane has to be flown faster at higher altitudes to cause the
same pressure difference between pitot impact pressure and
static pressure. Therefore, for a given calibrated airspeed,
true airspeed increases as altitude increases; or for a given
true airspeed, calibrated airspeed decreases as altitude
increases.

Torque. (1) A resistance to turning or twisting. (2) Forces

that produce a twisting or rotating motion. (3) In a WSC, the
tendency of the aircraft to turn (roll) in the opposite direction
of rotation of the engine and propeller.

True altitude. The vertical distance of the airplane above

sea level. the actual altitude. It is often expressed as feet
above mean sea level (MSL). Airport, terrain, and obstacle
elevations on sectional charts are true altitudes.

Total drag. The sum of the parasite and induced drag.

TRSA. See Terminal Radar Service Area.

Touch and go. An operation by an aircraft that lands and

takes off without stopping.

Tuck. A nose down situation in a WSC where the pitch

angle is over 90 degrees down resulting from a whip stall or
severe turbulence.

Thrust line. An imaginary line passing through the center of

the propeller hub, perpendicular to the plane of the propeller
rotation.

Touchdown point. The point or intended point at which an

aircraft first makes contact with the landing surface.
Touchdown zone. The portion of a runway, beyond the
threshold, where it is intended landing aircraft first contact
the runway.
Towered airport. An airport that has an operating control
tower.
Track. The actual path made over the ground in flight.

Tumble. The WSC rotating uncontrollably around its

lateral axis from a whip stall or severe turbulence. Results
of a tumble would probably cause a structural failure with
catastrophic consequences.
Turbulence. An occurrence in which a flow of fluid is
unsteady.
Twist. The design of the WSC wing in which a wing is
twisted so its angle of attack is less at the tip than at the root.

G-17

This decreases the lift the wing produces at the tip to improve
the stall characteristics of the wing. Also called washout.
Two-stroke engine. A simple form of reciprocating engine
that completes its operating cycle in two strokes of its
piston, one down and one up. Two-stroke-cycle engines are
inefficient in their use of fuel, but their simplicity makes
them popular for powering light-sport aircraft and ultralight
vehicles where light weight and low cost are paramount.
Ultralight. A single person only vehicle as defined by 14
CFR section 103.1.
Uncontrolled airspace. Class G airspace that has not been
designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. It is airspace in which
air traffic control has no authority or responsibility to control
air traffic; however, pilots should remember there are VFR
minimums which apply to this airspace.
Unicom. A nongovernment air/ground radio communication
station which may provide airport information at public use
airports where there is no tower or automated flight service
station.
Unusable fuel. Fuel that cannot be consumed by the engine.
This fuel is considered part of the empty weight of the
aircraft.
Useful load. The weight of the pilot, copilot, passengers,
baggage, usable fuel, and drainable oil. It is the basic empty
weight subtracted from the maximum allowable gross weight.
This term applies to general aviation aircraft only.
Unstabilized approach. The final approach of an aircraft that
has not achieved a stable rate of descent or controlled flight
track by a predetermined altitude, usually 500 feet AGL.
Unusual attitude. An unintentional, unanticipated, or
extreme aircraft attitude.
Useful load. The weight of the pilot, copilot, passengers,
baggage, usable fuel, and drainable oil. It is the basic empty
weight subtracted from the maximum allowable gross weight.
This term applies to general aviation aircraft only.
User-defined waypoints. Waypoint location and other data
which may be input by the user, this is the only GPS database
information that may be altered (edited) by the user.
Upwind Leg. A flight path parallel to the landing runway in
the direction of landing.

G-18

Vapor lock. A problem that mostly affects gasoline-fuelled

internal combustion engines. It occurs when the liquid fuel
changes state from liquid to gas while still in the fuel delivery
system. This disrupts the operation of the fuel pump, causing
loss of feed pressure to the carburetor or fuel injection system,
resulting in transient loss of power or complete stalling.
Restarting the engine from this state may be difficult. The fuel
can vaporise due to being heated by the engine, by the local
climate, or due to a lower boiling point at high altitude.
VASI. See visual approach slope indicator.
Vehicle. Manmade means of transportation; an ultralight
aircraft (not a light-sport aircraft).
Venturi. A specially shaped restriction in a tube designed
to speed up the flow of fluid passing through in accordance
with Bernoullis principle. Venturis are used in carburetors
and in many types of fluid control devices to produce a
pressure drop proportional to the speed of the fluid passing
through them.
Venturi Effect. The effect of Bernoullis principle, which
states that the pressure of a fluid decreases as it is speeded up
without losing or gaining any energy from the outside.
Verified. Confirmation of information or configuration
status.
Vertical axis (yaw). An imaginary line passing vertically
through the center of gravity of an aircraft. The vertical axis
is called the z-axis or the yaw axis.
Vertical speed indicator (VSI). An instrument that uses
static pressure to display a rate of climb or descent in feet
per minute. The VSI can also sometimes be called a vertical
velocity indicator (VVI).
Vertigo. A type of spatial disorientation caused by the
physical senses sending conflicting signals to the brain.
Vertigo is especially hazardous when flying under conditions
of poor visibility and may cause pilot incapacitation, but may
be minimized by confidence in the indication of the flight
instruments.
VFR. See visual flight rules.
VFR Terminal Area Charts. Charts designated to depict
Class B airspace in greater detail and greater scale than
sectional charts.

Vg diagram. A chart that relates velocity to load factor. It

is valid only for a specific weight, configuration and altitude
and shows the maximum amount of positive or negative lift
the airplane is capable of generating at a given speed. Also
shows the safe load factor limits and the load factor that the
aircraft can sustain at various speeds.
VNE. See never-exceed speed.
VNO. See maximum structural cruising speed.

Waypoint. A designated geographical location used for route

definition or progress-reporting purposes and is defined in
terms of latitude/longitude coordinates.
Washout. The design of the WSC wing in which a wing
is twisted so its angle of attack is less at the tip than at the
root. Washout decreases the lift the wing produces at the tip
to improve the stall characteristics of the wing. Also called
twist.

VX. See best angle-of-climb speed.

Washout strut. The structural member attached to the

leading edges which holds the tip twist for the wing at low
or negative angles of attack.

VY. See best rate-of-climb speed.

WCA. See wind correction angle.

Victor airways. Airways based on a centerline that extends

from one VOR or VORTAC navigation aid or intersection,
to another navigation aid (or through several navigation aids
or intersections); used to establish a known route for en route
procedures between terminal areas.

Weather briefing. Means for pilots to gather information

vital to the nature of the flight from a flight service station
specialist.

Visual approach slope indicator (VASI). A visual aid of

lights arranged to provide descent guidance information
during the approach to the runway. A pilot on the correct
glideslope will see red lights over white lights.

Weight. A measure of the heaviness of an object. One of the

four main forces acting on an aircraft. The force by which a
body is attracted downward toward the center of the Earth
(or another celestial body) by gravity. Weight is equal to
the mass of the body times the local value of gravitational
acceleration.

VS. See stalling speed.

Visual flight rules (VFR). Rules in the Code of Federal

Regulations that govern the procedures for conducting flight
under visual conditions.
Visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Meteorological
conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from
cloud, and ceiling meeting or exceeding the minimums
specified for VFR.
VSI. See vertical speed indicator.
Wake turbulence. Wingtip vortices that are created when
an aircraft generates lift. When an aircraft generates lift, air
spills over the wingtips from the high pressure areas below
the wings to the low pressure areas above them. This flow
causes rapidly rotating whirlpools of air called wingtip
vortices or wake turbulence.
Warm front. The boundary area formed when a warm air
mass contacts and flows over a colder air mass. Warm fronts
cause low ceilings and rain.
Warning area. An area containing hazards to any aircraft
not participating in the activities being conducted in the
area. Warning areas may contain intensive military training,
gunnery exercises, or special weapons testing.

Weathervane. The tendency to point into the wind.

Weight-Shift Control Aircraft. Powered aircraft with a

framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only in
pitch and roll by the pilots ability to change the aircrafts
center of gravity with respect to the wing. Flight control of
the aircraft depends on the wings ability to flexibly deform
rather than the use of control surfaces.
Whip stall. A pitch attitude that is too high for a WSC,
at which the tips would stall from flying outside the WSC
limitations or flying in extreme/severe turbulence.
Wind correction angle. Correction applied to the course to
establish a heading so that track will coincide with course.
Also called the Crab angle.
Wind direction indicators. Indicators that include a
wind sock, wind tee, or tetrahedron. Visual reference will
determine wind direction and runway in use.
Wind drift correction. Correction applied to the heading
of the aircraft necessary to keep the aircraft tracking over a
desired track. Also called the wind correction angle or crab
angle.

G-19

Wind shear. A sudden, drastic shift in wind speed, direction,

or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.
Wing. A fabric skin with an aluminum frame that produces
the lift necessary to support the WSC in flight; including the
flight wires/control frame below and the ground wires/king
post above.
Wing keel. The WSC structural component in the longitudinal
center of the wing that connects the two leading edges
together at the nose and connects the carriage to the wing.
Wing loading. The amount of weight that a wing must
support to provide lift.
Wingspan. The maximum distance from wingtip to
wingtip.

World Aeronautical Charts (WAC). A standard series

of aeronautical charts covering land areas of the world at a
size and scale convenient for navigation (1:1,000,000) by
moderate speed aircraft. Topographic information includes
cities and towns, principal roads, railroads, distinctive
landmarks, drainage, and relief. Aeronautical information
includes visual and radio aids to navigation, airports, airways,
restricted areas, obstructions and other pertinent data.
WSC. See weight-shift control.
Weight-Shift ControlLand (WSCL). WSC that takes off
and lands on land. This can be wheels or ski equipped.
Weight-Shift ControlSea (WSCS). WSC that takes of the
water. This can be pontoons or a boat configuration.
Yaw. Rotation about the vertical axis of an aircraft.

Wing twist. A design feature of the WSC that reduces the

angle of attack from the root to the tip.
Wingtip vortices. The rapidly rotating air that spills over an
aircrafts wings during flight. The intensity of the turbulence
depends on the aircrafts weight, speed, and configuration. It
is also referred to as wake turbulence. Vortices from heavy
aircraft may be extremely hazardous to small aircraft.

G-20

Zulu time. A term used in aviation for Coordinated Universal

Time (UTC) which places the entire world on one time
standard.

Index
A
abnormal engine instrument indications ....................13-13
aeronautical decision-making ............................ 1-10, 13-1
after landing .................................................................5-26
after landing roll ...........................................................11-7
airfoil ..............................................................................2-1
airport and navigation lighting aids .............................12-4
airport operations .........................................................10-2
airspace ..........................................................................8-2
Class A Airspace ........................................................8-8
Class B Airspace ........................................................8-7
Class C Airspace ........................................................8-6
Class D Airspace ........................................................8-6
Class E Airspace.........................................................8-4
Class G Airspace ........................................................8-2
alert areas .....................................................................8-10
alternating turns .........................................................11-21
angle of attack ................................................................2-4
approach .......................................................................13-6
approaches and landings ............................................12-11
AROW .........................................................................5-15
aspect ratio .....................................................................2-5
attitude and sink rate control ........................................13-5
attitude control ...........................................................13-18
attitude ying .................................................................6-4
avoiding pilot errors .....................................................1-11
axes of rotation.............................................................2-12

black-hole approach .....................................................12-8

bouncing during touchdown ......................................11-29

C
cables and hardware .......................................................3-7
camber ............................................................................2-1
carriage .........................................................................3-10
carriage inspection .......................................................5-18
carriage moments ............................................... 2-16, 2-17
center of gravity ...........................................................2-11
certicates and documents ...........................................5-15
checklist after entering ight deck ...............................5-23
checklist for taxi ...........................................................5-25
climbs and climbing turns ............................................6-12
collision avoidance.........................................................1-9
communications ...........................................................3-19
conned areas...............................................................13-7
control frame ..................................................................3-4
controlled airports ........................................................10-2
controlled airspace .........................................................8-4
controlled ring areas ..................................................8-10
cooling systems ............................................................5-20
coordinating the controls................................................6-8
crosswind approaches and landings ...........................11-17
landings ..................................................................11-19
leg .............................................................................10-2
takeoff.........................................................................7-6
crosswind pattern procedures .....................................11-17

B
ballistic parachute system .................................. 3-15, 13-2
ballooning during roundout........................................11-29
bank control ...................................................................6-4
base leg............................................................... 10-2, 11-2
basic pilot eligibility ......................................................1-9
basic propeller principles .............................................2-20
basic safety concepts ....................................................13-4
battens and leading edge stiffener ..................................3-7
before takeoff check .....................................................5-26
best angle of climb speed .............................................6-13
best rate of climb speed................................................6-12

D
dashboards and instrument panels ...............................3-16
deck angle ......................................................................2-4
departure leg.................................................................10-2
descents and descending turns .....................................6-14
descent at minimum safe airspeed ...............................6-14
ditching ........................................................................13-8
downwind leg ...............................................................10-2
drag ........................................................................ 2-7, 2-8
drift and ground track control ........................................9-2
dynamic pressure ...........................................................2-7

I-1

effects and hazards of high crosswinds for

approaches and landings ............................................11-17
effects and the use of the controls ..................................6-2
effect of headwinds during nal approach ...................11-8
electrical res .............................................................13-12
electrical system ............................................... 3-15, 13-12
emergency approaches and landings ..........................11-26
descents ..................................................................13-10
equipment and survival gear ....................................13-8
landings ....................................................................13-3
energy management .....................................................6-19
engine and gearbox ......................................................3-20
engine failure after takeoff ...........................................13-9
engine re...................................................................13-10
engine instruments .......................................................3-17
engine start ...................................................................5-23
entering a turn ................................................................6-8
equipment and lighting ................................................12-2
estimating height and movement .................................11-5
exiting a turn ..................................................................6-8

hang glider .....................................................................1-4

hard landing ...............................................................11-30
high angles of attack ....................................................2-13
high nal approach.....................................................11-27
high roundout .............................................................11-28
high winds and strong turbulence ..............................13-15
during cruise ight .................................................13-15
during takeoffs and landings ..................................13-15
high winds during taxi ...............................................13-15
hypothermia .................................................................1-13

fatigue ..........................................................................1-13
faulty approaches and landings ..................................11-27
feel of the aircraft ...........................................................6-3
nal approach ..................................................... 10-2, 11-4
are ..............................................................................11-6
ex wing.........................................................................2-6
ight deck.....................................................................3-16
inspection .................................................................5-20
ight deck management ...........................................5-23
ight instruments .........................................................3-17
ight operations and pilot certicates ............................1-8
ight over charted u.s. wildlife refuges, parks, and
forest service areas .......................................................8-12
oating during roundout ............................................11-28
forced landing ..............................................................13-3
forces in ight ................................................................2-7
fuel ...............................................................................5-20
fuel system components ...............................................3-20

keel .................................................................................3-3
kinesthesia ......................................................................6-4
king post with wires-on-top wing design .......................3-5

G
glide..............................................................................6-14
ight ...........................................................................2-6
turns ..........................................................................6-16
go-around ...................................................................11-13
ground adjustable trim systems......................................3-9
ground effect ................................................................2-11
on takeoff....................................................................7-7
ground roll......................................................................7-2
I-2

I
inadvertant propeller strike ........................................13-13
inadvertent ight into instrument meteorological
conditions ...................................................................13-16
induced drag ...................................................................2-8
inight adjustable trim systems ...................................3-10
inight re..................................................................13-10
initial climb ..................................................... 7-2, 7-4, 7-6
instrument panel arrangements ....................................3-17

L
landing gear..................................................................3-11
for water and snow ...................................................3-14
malfunction.............................................................13-13
lateral axis ....................................................................2-12
pitch ..........................................................................2-12
late or rapid roundout .................................................11-28
leading edges..................................................................3-2
level turns .......................................................................6-7
lift ...................................................................................2-7
lift-off ..................................................................... 7-2, 7-3
and climb out ..............................................................7-9
and initial climb ........................................................7-12
light sport aircraft ...........................................................1-6
Lilienthal, Otto ...............................................................1-2
local airport advisory ...................................................8-11
local conditions ..............................................................5-3
longitudinal axis ................................................... 2-3, 2-13
low angles of attack .....................................................2-14
low nal approach ......................................................11-27

M
maintaining aircraft control........................................13-17

maneuvering by reference to ground objects .................9-2

maximum crosswind velocities ..................................11-19
medical factors .............................................................1-13
medium turns .................................................................6-8
military operations areas ................................................8-9
military training routes.................................................8-11
motorized hang gliders ...................................................1-4

N
national security areas ..................................................8-12
navigating the airspace .................................................8-13
navigation instruments .................................................3-17
night ying ...................................................................12-9
emergencies ............................................................12-12
illusions ....................................................................12-7
takeoff.......................................................................12-9
vision ........................................................................12-5
noise abatement ............................................................7-13
normal (calm wind) approaches and landings .............11-2
normal climb ................................................................6-12
normal takeoff ................................................................7-2

O
occupant preight brief ................................................5-22
oil .................................................................................5-21
orientation and navigation..........................................12-10
other airspace areas ......................................................8-11

P
parachute jump areas....................................................8-11
parasite drag ...................................................................2-8
partial power descent ...................................................6-14
PAVE .............................................................................5-1
pilot equipment ............................................................12-3
pilot requirements ........................................................12-2
pitch..............................................................................2-12
and power .................................................................6-16
angle ...........................................................................2-4
control.........................................................................6-4
control system ............................................................3-8
moments summary ...................................................2-16
pressures ...................................................................2-14
pitot-static system ......................................................13-12
planform .........................................................................2-5
pockets and hardware .....................................................3-7
porpoising ..................................................................11-29
positive transfer of controls .........................................1-10
postight, parking, and securing ..................................5-27
power..........................................................................11-13

power-off accuracy approaches .................................11-21

180 ........................................................................11-23
360 ........................................................................11-25
90 ..........................................................................11-22
power-off stall manuever .............................................6-23
powerplant inspection ..................................................5-19
powerplant system .......................................................3-19
power control .................................................................6-4
precautionary landing...................................................13-3
preight actions..............................................................5-3
preight inspection.......................................................5-15
preparation and preight ..............................................12-8
prohibited areas ..............................................................8-8
psychological hazards ..................................................13-3
published VFR routes ..................................................8-12

R
ready aircraft to enter ight deck .................................5-22
recognition .................................................................13-17
rectangular course ..........................................................9-4
reex systems .................................................................3-8
regional weather .............................................................5-3
rejected landings ........................................................11-13
rejected takeoff/engine failure .....................................7-12
resource management...................................................1-12
restricted areas ...............................................................8-9
Rogallo, Francis .............................................................1-2
roll ................................................................................2-13
control system ............................................................3-9
stability and moments...............................................2-16
rotation ...........................................................................7-2
rotation and lift-off .........................................................7-6
roundout .......................................................................11-6
routine preight inspection ..........................................5-16
runaway throttle .........................................................13-13
runup ............................................................................12-8
runway incursion avoidance ........................................1-10

S
s-turns across a road .......................................................9-7
sail components..............................................................3-6
attachment to wing frame ...........................................3-7
material and panels .....................................................3-7
scenario-based training ................................................1-12
setting up the WSC aircraft ............................................5-8
shallow turns ..................................................................6-8
short-eld approaches and landings ...........................11-14
short eld takeoff and steepest angle climb ...................7-8
simulated engine out ..................................................11-26

I-3

slow nal approach ....................................................11-27

slow ight ....................................................................6-20
and stalls ...................................................................6-20
soft and rough eld takeoff and climb .........................7-10
approaches and landings.........................................11-15
special use airspace ........................................................8-8
speed ..........................................................................11-13
stability and moments ..................................................2-13
stabilized approach concept .......................................11-10
stalls .............................................................................6-21
exceeding the critical AOA ......................................2-18
standard airport trafc patterns ....................................10-2
starting..........................................................................12-8
steep angle..................................................................11-21
steep approach .................................................. 6-14, 11-20
steep turns ......................................................................6-8
performance maneuver .............................................6-16
straight-and-level ying .................................................6-4
structure........................................................................3-11
stuck throttle...............................................................13-13
system malfunctions...................................................13-12

T
takeoff and climb .........................................................12-9
takeoff roll...................................... 7-2, 7-3, 7-6, 7-9, 7-12
taking down the wsc aircraft ........................................5-12
taxiing ................................................................ 5-24, 12-8
temporary ight restrictions .........................................8-11
terminal radar service areas .........................................8-12
terrain selection ............................................................13-6
terrain types..................................................................13-7
the propeller .................................................................3-20
throttle use....................................................................11-2
thrust .................................................................... 2-7, 2-10
thrust moments .............................................................2-18
thrust required for increases in speed...........................2-11
topless wings with struts ................................................3-5
touchdown ....................................................................11-7
towered airport operations .............................................8-6
transporting ....................................................................5-7
trimnormal stabilized ight ......................................2-13
control.........................................................................6-7
systems .......................................................................3-9
tuning the wing to y slower or faster .........................5-14
tuning the wing to y straight ......................................5-14
turbulent air approaches and landings........................11-16
turns............................................................................13-18
around a point .............................................................9-9

I-4

U
uncontrolled airports ....................................................10-2
uncontrolled airspace .....................................................8-2
unique airfoil and wing design .....................................2-13
unique WSC ight characteristics ................................12-7
upwind leg....................................................................10-2
use of checklists ...........................................................1-12
use of power ...............................................................11-28

V
vertical axis ..................................................................2-13

W
warning areas .................................................................8-9
water landings ..............................................................13-8
weather ...........................................................................5-3
weather related emergencies ......................................13-15
weight................................................................... 2-7, 2-10
weight and loading .........................................................5-5
weight, load, and speed ................................................2-20
weight-shift control aircraft ...........................................1-7
weight-shift control LSA requirements .........................1-8
whip stalltucktumble ................................................2-19
awareness .................................................................6-24
wing................................................................................3-2
chord ...........................................................................2-2
exibility ....................................................................2-6
frame components ......................................................3-2
inspection .................................................................5-17
loading ........................................................................2-6
rising after touchdown ............................................11-30
systems .......................................................................3-8
tuning ........................................................................5-14
twist ............................................................................2-3
Wright Flyer ...................................................................1-2
WSC and air trafc control ..........................................8-12
WSC operations ...........................................................8-12

Y
yaw ...............................................................................2-13
stability and moments...............................................2-17
stability summary .....................................................2-18